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Charlotte Bankes was on the “level of giving up” when Nice Britain provided a lifeline – and now she needs to say thanks within the type of an Olympic medal.
Bankes switched the purple, white and blue of France for that of Crew GB in 2018, and it’s a transfer that has paid off. Since her change of allegiance, the 26-year-old has turn into snowboard cross world champion, in addition to successful 4 World Cup titles.
Subsequent, to Beijing. The Winter Olympics are simply days away, and Bankes – already a veteran of two Video games – heads to China as arguably Crew GB’s best probability of gold.
“I might all the time had it at the back of my thoughts to compete for Nice Britain, and I believe that was the suitable time to try this change,” she informed BBC Sport.
“It wasn’t simple, it was fairly powerful, however I am actually proud of the way it went.
“As quickly as I made a decision and reached out to see if it was potential, I had nice help from GB Snowsport and that is led to the place I’m now.”
Bankes, who was born in Britain and moved to France aged 4, added: “If I can come again with a medal from the Olympics it could be a good way to say thanks for believing in me and for believing that I used to be able to it.
“I used to be on the level of giving up once I made that change, and did not suppose anyone truly believed I might make it.”
Bankes’ transfer to GB got here after years of battle. In 2011, she fractured her pelvis, leaving her with lasting ache that prevented her from correctly coaching for years.
She “misplaced a little bit of the love” that she had for snowboarding and when the French group determined to make adjustments to its set-up on the top of her unhappiness, it was time for a change of her personal.
Greater than three years on, Bankes is sort of pain-free and driving at her greatest for GB – this season alone she has gained three World Cup golds, together with two in 24 hours in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, in January.
The Olympics could not be coming at a greater time.
“I have never had the expertise I might have favored to have had on the Olympics, however I simply have to take it as some other race,” mentioned Bankes, who completed seventh in Pyeongchang 4 years in the past after failing to achieve the semi-finals at Sochi 2014.
“The very best riders will probably be there and driving at their greatest so the intention is to simply take it step-by-step.
“We have been fortunate sufficient to go to China already and see the monitor, so we have got an concept of what we’ll be racing on. We have been frightened it was going to be very flat nevertheless it’s not as dangerous as we thought.
“They have some adjustments to make so it is good that we went beforehand in order that they noticed what labored and what did not.
“It isn’t fairly as spectacular as earlier Video games, however that was the intention as a result of there have been a whole lot of accidents.”
The ladies’s snowboard cross takes place on 9 February at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, some 180km from Beijing itself.
Bankes heads there with a medal in her sights however it’s the battle she is most wanting ahead to.
“I am going there aiming to be at my greatest. If I am driving nicely, the outcomes needs to be fairly good,” she mentioned.
“For positive gold is the intention ultimately. However every thing can occur.
“There is a good battle happening inside the women and that is what I need to be a part of most of all.
“Hopefully the consequence will include it.”
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