Gillings makes no excuses but insists Sochi will be different

BRITISH snowboarder Zoe Gillings is refusing to blame her funding crisis for missing the medals in Vancouver, but insists it will be a different story in four years' time.

NO EXCUSES: British snowboarder Zoe Gillings accepts her fate in Vancouver but insists she will be better prepared in four years' time (Getty Images)

Gillings, 24, finished eighth in the snowboardcross on her Olympic debut, afterwards revealing a knee injury hampered her chances of progressing through her semi-final, where she finished third and had to settle for the B final.

It completes a turbulent season for Gillings, whose training was severely restricted due to national governing body SnowsportGB's financial strife, which saw them go into administration just a week before Vancouver 2010.

The British Olympic Association stepped in to ensure the 14 athletes who were SnowsportGB's responsibility could at least compete in Vancouver.

That was just a short-term fix however and Gillings cannot wait to team up British Ski and Snowboard as she bids to top the podium at Sochi 2014.  

"I have learnt a great deal from the past 12 months and will not let it happen again, I'm making absolutely no excuses as I did what I could with what I had available and I'm happy with eighth place," said Gillings. 

"It will make me stronger and more determined to become the best. 

"I'm leaving here now with one goal in mind, to become the best in the World over the next four years with a World Class program to match. 

"The British Olympic Association have been awesome in helping me prepare for these Olympics and I'm really looking forward to working with them towards Sochi.

"It will be a welcome change working with a truly professional body such as British Ski and Snowboard (BSS) who have now taken over as my new governing body and I have 100 per cent confidence in them.  I'm now more determined than ever."

An MRI scan after the competition in Vancouver revealed tendon damage in Gilling's knee whereby she is currently on crutches for the next three weeks but there isn't thought to be any long term damage. 

She added: "I want to ensure I fully recover from this injury as I know so many people who have repetitive knee injuries throughout their career, I should be OK in three or four weeks but I'm not taking any chances."