Lily Tomkinson overcomes injury woes to win national ski titles

TALENTED skier Lily Tomkinson has not let injury problems deter her, overcoming two knee reconstructions to win national titles.

Lily Tomkinson in action at Thredbo. Picture: Steve Cuff

TWO knee reconstructions, self-doubt and the best skiers in the country could not stop a teenage Woodend alpine skier triumphing at this year’s national titles.

Determination is simply a part of the make-up for 19-year-old Lily Tomkinson, who is back to her best from injury.

Tomkinson, who had her first knee reconstruction at 15, won gold in the open giant slalom, under-21 giant slalom and junior slalom events at last month’s National Alpine Skiing Championships in Thredbo. She was also runner-up in the senior slalom event.

Tomkinson’s recovery from major injuries, which included a bone graft in her second reconstruction, involved many hours of strengthening exercises and cross training around the Macedon Ranges.

So committed is she to her sport, she has been completing Year 12 by correspondence.

Only last year did she return to competitive skiing, her mother Justina Tomkinson selling the family home to ensure she could get to Europe and Japan for competition this year.

Lily Tomkinson shows off her medals.

But when she was beaten in the lead-up event at Perisher by competitors she felt she had the measure of, she was at the brink of giving it away.

“When I first got back to racing my coach was going to pull me out of competition as I was racing too aggressively,” she said. “So in Japan and Europe I got more confidence and I really wanted to get back to my best in the Australian season.”

During the giant slalom event, the clock froze and the correct time took some time to come up.

“I knew I had a good time, but I was shocked to come first,” Tomkinson said.

She beat three-time Olympian Jenny Owens in the process.

Tomkinson has set her sights on earning selection for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Tomkinson is a Sunbury/Macedon Ranges Leader senior sports star nominee. Click HERE to nominate a sports star, presented by Sportsmart.