Skiercross victory for SarsfieldEmily Sarsfield, who missed out on competing in the Winter Olympics in skiercross because of injury, has set her stamp on her recovery by claiming victory in the end-of-season Europa Cup event in Val Thorens.
Skiercross was the big hit of the Vancouver Games thanks to its mix of speed, potential for mayhem and simplicity. Whoever gets over the line first wins, and that suits TV audiences and other people with short attention spans, like us.
The 26-year-old from Durham defied a strapped right knee and broken right thumb - for which she wore a hand cast - to beat off competition that included the top three women on the circuit.
Watch her winning run here
Sarsfield cruelly missed out on selection for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver after suffering a serious knee injury on the Olympic course just over a year ago.
But she showed the British Olympic Association exactly what they had been missing with Saturday's historic result, which was also the first Europa Cup win for any British skier for five years.
A delighted Sarsfield said: "I knew I was capable of winning and was feeling confident on the course.
"However, I was still a little sore with knee niggles and a ruptured thumb ligament so I knew 
my start would struggle.
"All thing considered, it is a great result.
"It's been an extremely hard season this year with the the BOA declining my Olympic invite and coming back from injury, so it was great for me to get some confidence to show I am coming back hopefully better than before.
"It's made me more determined to build my strength over the summer, ready to have a great season next year."
Sarsfield's season comes to an end this week, after which she will visit her knee surgeon to "sort out a few niggles".
She added: "I'm looking forward to building more strength in my right leg and getting fit over the summer."
Read more about Emily in the current issue of Fall-Line, on sale now and very pink.
Posted by Dickie Fincher - Wed, 24/03/2010 - 8:32am
Emily Sarsfield, who missed out on competing in the Winter Olympics in skiercross because of injury, has set her stamp on her recovery by claiming victory in the end-of-season Europa Cup event in Val Thorens.
Skiercross was the big hit of the Vancouver Games thanks to its mix of speed, potential for mayhem and simplicity. Whoever gets over the line first wins, and that suits TV audiences and other people with short attention spans, like us.
The 26-year-old from Durham defied a strapped right knee and broken right thumb - for which she wore a hand cast - to beat off competition that included the top three women on the circuit.
Watch her winning run here
Sarsfield cruelly missed out on selection for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver after suffering a serious knee injury on the Olympic course just over a year ago.
But she showed the British Olympic Association exactly what they had been missing with Saturday's historic result, which was also the first Europa Cup win for any British skier for five years.
A delighted Sarsfield said: "I knew I was capable of winning and was feeling confident on the course.
"However, I was still a little sore with knee niggles and a ruptured thumb ligament so I knew my start would struggle.
"All thing considered, it is a great result.
"It's been an extremely hard season this year with the the BOA declining my Olympic invite and coming back from injury, so it was great for me to get some confidence to show I am coming back hopefully better than before.
"It's made me more determined to build my strength over the summer, ready to have a great season next year."
Sarsfield's season comes to an end this week, after which she will visit her knee surgeon to "sort out a few niggles".
She added: "I'm looking forward to building more strength in my right leg and getting fit over the summer."
Read more about Emily in the current issue of Fall-Line, on sale now and very pink.