When Rowan Cheshire flew to Sochi in 2014 it was with hopes of an Olympic medal until a crash in training knocked her unconscious, left her hospitalised and unable to compete for Team GB.
Fast forward two years and Cheshire is back with a point to prove and, while she admits she might have rushed back prematurely last season, she is adamant that she will be better than ever the next time her Olympic dream presents itself.
That will be no easy feat given the course the 20-year-old freestyle skier was charting when she came crashing down on the Sochi half-pipe.
January of 2014 had seen Cheshire claim World Cup gold in Calgary and, in the process, become the first British woman to stand atop a world podium since Jilly Curry 22 years earlier.
It was the determination to scale those lofty heights again that drove Cheshire back following Sochi and saw her push herself to return to the slopes as soon as possible.
Now she admits that her return was too soon but says this season will be a chance to recapture her finest form and build towards the next Winter Olympics two years from now in Pyeongchang.
“In my head I had a point to prove because I didn’t get to show the world what I could do in [Sochi],” she said.
“I wanted to get back as soon as possible and be able to prove myself in the competitions, to show that I could have done all right.
“So I did push myself, but I’ve definitely got in my head to take my time this time round.
“I’m hoping to get back on form, to get back to the standard I was and improve on that standard.
“I’m going to do the Rev Tour in America, and then hopefully do the World Cups in January, and the rest of the season.
“Obviously I want to do as well as I can, but just not putting the pressure on, just see how it goes.”
The road to recovery has been far-from smooth for Cheshire who suffered anxiety after the fall and has been working with a psychologist to overcome the effects of her crash.
But that hasn’t dampened her ambitions and she is determined to reach Pyeongchang and stand on an Olympic podium.
“It’s about getting there and seeing how I feel, and just building the confidence up without any pressure,” she added.
“I’ve talked through it with my psychologist; because I have to be on point because we start qualifying for the next Olympics.
“So that’s the point that I need to be ready for, but now is kind of a period time where I can just chill and do it at my own pace, instead of putting any stress.
“I think everyone’s goal is to medal at an Olympic Games.
“So I’m definitely aiming for the podium because the standard that I was at, I won the World Cup at Calgary, so I was in good stead to make the top five.
“So I really want to get back to the standard I was at and then improve on it – that’s the goal.”
Sportsbeat 2016