SNOWBOARD CROSS: Dual Olympian Belle Brockhoff finished eleventh in the women's Snowboard Cross finals at Phoenix Snow Park on Friday less than two months after undergoing serious knee surgery. 

The 25-year-old Melburnian has had a rollercoaster 12 months after injuring her ACL twice -- the first, before World Championships in March and the second following a crash at Val Thorens, France in early December. 

Though she was hoping to take out the top spot on the podium, the Sochi Olympian said that regardless of the result she was honoured to represent Australia as the nation's only female boardercross athlete in the event.

"I was going for number one, I always go for gold," she said.

"But at the end of the day I wasn't the fastest today but I'll come back and be faster than these girls for sure... It's an incredible experience to be representing your country even if they know your body is falling apart on you.

"You're still pulling out of the start gates and I think that's given me a lot of confidence that if I set my mind to it, I can do it."

After finishing in the top ten during Friday's first qualification run, Brockhoff progressed directly through to the quaterfinals where she placed third behind gold medallist Michela Moioli (Italy) and France's Julia Pereira de Sousa Mabileau. 

"I was surprised about that because I wasn't expecting to be fast out of starts," she said.

"Usually I am, but I've been a bit rusty and the girls have been smashing me out of the starts so I think just the adrenaline and emotions kicked in."

It was in the semi-final that she crashed. Yet the Sochi Olympian dusted herself off and made her way back to the top of the mountain to compete in the event's Small Final (a ranking round for athletes placed seventh to 12th). 

"I feel like I tried my best and that's what it is," she said.

Doctors will assess Brockhoff's condition further post competition, but she said that she is "keen not to have surgery".

"I believe I can deal without it," she said.

"I just need to rest it because I've got cartilage damage in there. So rest up until I'm fully recovered and then work really hard."

After what can only be described as a turbulent 12 months for the dual Olympian, she said she's determined to get back on the course and show the competition what she's made of.

"I want to come back stronger than ever," she said.

"I want to beat all these girls."

David Barden

olympics.com.au