Torah Bright slaps down critics who claim she had a negative attitude during the Sochi Winter Olympics

AUSSIE snowboarder Torah Bright copped a lot of flak for her “negative attitude” during the Winter Olympics. But now Bright has slapped down her critics.

Torah Bright.

AUSTRALIAN snowboarder Torah Bright isn’t too fussed about the criticism she copped during the Sochi Olympics.

Bright’s opinions on everything from the slopestyle course to the way our athletes are funded drew the displeasure of a few people, most notably five-time winter Olympian Jacqui Cooper.

“She performed badly with her results, really,” Cooper said as the Games wrapped up. “She performed badly with social media and I also think she performed badly as an athlete to complain about the course and the snow.

“To create such a negative vibe during the Olympic Games ... I almost think she should be ashamed of herself.”

Australia's Torah Bright reacts after a seeding run during women's snowboard cross.

Cooper later apologised for that rather biting critique, but Bright didn’t take it all that seriously anyway.

“I laughed at first, because she obviously hadn’t done her research, and it made me think she hadn’t watched anything,” Bright tells news.com.au.

“Those who form an opinion without facts and truth ... their opinion really isn’t valid anyway.”

Bright says she doesn’t view her comments about the facilities in Sochi as “being critical”.

“I don’t go around commenting about things I don’t know about, but I do know about snowboarding,” Bright says.

“We weren’t being whingers. It’s very, very common at events that the pipe builders actually come to us and ask what we would change. They want it to be the best for us.”

Australia's Torah Bright competes in the Women's Snowboard Cross.

Bright points to the example of champion American snowboarder Shaun White, who failed to win a medal in the male halfpipe event.

“Shaun literally outrode the pipe,” Bright says. “It’s the Olympics. We’ve got a chance once every four years to really show ourselves to the world, and that’s a shame that it wasn’t our ability that affected us, it was the facilities.

“I do feel like it’s my right as a professional to portray a realistic version of what’s happening,” she says. “We’re going to do our job anyway, but here’s what’s going on.”

Torah Bright of Australia celebrates during the medal ceremony for the halfpipe.

None of that really detracted from Bright’s experience in Sochi, which she says was extremely positive.

“I actually thought the people were wonderful,” she says. “When you think of Russians, you think of no one smiling, but it wasn’t the case at all. I’m sure a lot of people were a bit surprised.”

Bright revelled in the success of her Australian teammates, taking particular pleasure in the performances of David Morris, who won silver, and the female moguls team.

“Everybody has a different journey,” she says. “When you really look at the details, that’s inspiring in itself.

“The moguls ... they were really happy with their performance. Britteny Cox (who came fifth), she was so happy and excited.

“David Morris, oh my god he is a superstar,” Bright says. “I just thought, what a champion.”

Torah Bright looks on after the Ladies' Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals.

The Winter Olympics finished two weeks ago. Since then, Bright has spent most of her time visiting family members and “chilling out”.

“I flew back to the US and I surfed for a few days. I was absolutely destroyed,” she says. “I played with my cute little nephews. I went and saw my brother and his girls ... Everyone’s coming up to Sydney on the weekend.”

Bright, who is sponsored by surf wear brand Roxy, isn’t the only snowboarder who’s been known to hop on a surfboard as well. Defending snowboard cross champion Alex Pullin was spotted surfing around Sydney’s northern beaches just weeks before the Games.

That happy disposition has become Bright’s hallmark.

“I think the culture is the same in a way, and I mean, there’s many differences in technicalities, but it’s kind of the same general feeling. Riding powder is like an endless wave,” Bright says.

“Those who surf truly, truly do love it. I think that’s the same with snowboarding. It’s their passion, their love. I think at the Games that really shined through.

“I love the sport, and I want to share the sport with the world win, lose or draw. As long as I do what I set out to do, I’m generally happy.”

You’ll probably see Bright again at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, by the way.

“That’s the plan,” she says. “I might tone it down. I don’t think there will be three events next time, it wore me out!”