Chemmy Alcott has been through an agonising journey to reach her fourth Olympics - but was all smiles after securing a top 20 finish in the women's downhill at Rosa Khutor.
Alcott has broken her leg twice in the last four years and has barely competed this season, with her selection in doubt right up until the last moment.
Her time of 1.43.43 minutes was two seconds off the pace as Switzerland's Dominique Gisin and Slovenia's Tina Maze became the first skiers to dead heat for Olympic alpine skiing gold.
"I know it sounds crazy to some people, especially when we have such a strong team here in Sochi, but 19th is a gold for me," said Alcott. "Anyone who has followed what I've been through will understand that.
"When I made the commitment to come here it was about personal goals. I never put any statistics on it, if I had then top 20 would have been massively over superseding what I expected.
"It's weird for me to say how much a 19th place means. I went into this sport to go for gold and I believe I had the talent to do that.
"If I'd ticked every box and not got injured I believe I had the potential to win but now my destiny is to show people how you can fight back.
"After what I’ve been through, it's amazing justice. I’m swelling with pride and I'm on a buzz.
"I've done this against all odds and I'm very proud."
© Sportsbeat 2014