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Snowboarder Belle Brockhoff chasing fairytale ending to trying year at PyeongChang

SHE’S the Australian chasing a fairytale ending to what has been a very trying year or so. We throw the Swoop spotlight on snowboarder Belle Brockhoff.

Australian Winter Olympic snowboard cross athlete Belle Brockhoff.
Australian Winter Olympic snowboard cross athlete Belle Brockhoff.

SHE’S the Australian chasing a fairytale ending at the Winter Olympics to what has been a very trying year or so thanks to injury dramas.

Today we throw the spotlight on Belle Brockhoff, the Australian fighting back from injuries to be representing her country again.

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SWOOP SPOTLIGHT: On Belle Brockhoff

Australian Winter Olympic snowboard cross athlete Belle Brockhoff.
Australian Winter Olympic snowboard cross athlete Belle Brockhoff.

EVENT

Snowboard cross

OLYMPIC HISTORY

This is Brockhoff’s second Winter Olympics after she made her debut in Sochi four years ago as a 21-year-old.

Brockhoff finished eighth on debut in Russia.

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INJURY

Brockhoff suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in a crash during the 2017/18 season. Then, she re-injured it in December, making it a real race to be on the start line in Korea.

As a consequence she was able to compete in just one lead-up event but finished eighth in a major confidence booster ahead of PyeongChang.

Flying high at the Olympics in Sochi.
Flying high at the Olympics in Sochi.

INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

Brockhoff finished eighth at the last Olympics and is a three-time World Cup winner.

At the end of the 2016-2017 season she was the third ranked athlete in the world.

Brockhoff also created history at the end of the 2016 season by becoming the first Australian female to win a Snowboard Cross World Cup

Her World Cup wins came at Bansko, Bulgaria, in 2017, Montafon, Austria, in 2016, and Baqueira Beret, SPA, in 2016.

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FAMILY TIES

The Victoria is a the niece of Peter Brockhoff, an alpine skier who contested the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics.

Her grandfather is Harold Brockhoff, who was one of the pioneers of Mt Buller and her great aunt, Joyce, has a run named after her for her part in promoting women in snow sports.

Belle Brockhoff is chasing a fairytale end to a difficult time battling back from injury.
Belle Brockhoff is chasing a fairytale end to a difficult time battling back from injury.

BACKGROUND

Brockhoff was skiing almost as soon as she was walking.

She started snowboarding at age 10 – winning her first event three weeks later.

OTHER STUFF

She loves surfing, sushi and BMX along with photography and fashion.

She is a supporter of the women’s Carlton Football team

She also suffered depression as a teenager.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/swoop/snowboarder-belle-brockhoff-chasing-fairytale-ending-to-trying-year-at-pyeongchang/news-story/1f7971dba7bc33ad085a132c972ea7f4