Alcott pulls out of comeback race

Alcott is hopeful of competing in the World Championships

Sussex alpine skier Chemmy Alcott has suffered a late setback on her comeback from a broken ankle.

The 26-year-old from Hove had returned to training and was hoping to compete in Slovenia, but the ankle needs more time to recover.

She told the BBC she was not ready to test it under race conditions, but still expects to make the World Championships in France in February.

Alcott is one of Britain's best medal hopes at next year's Winter Olympics.

She told BBC South East Today: "Skiing is a very specific motion and I now realise I wasn't able to recreate it in the gym back home.

"So I may have been jumping the gun in terms of getting back racing. The World Champs next month is the biggest goal.

"I am at about 40 percent of the intensity I would be doing in a race, so there's still a way to go. The ankle feels ok but sometimes I get a little discomfort where the break was.

"I am still very positive for Val d'Isere and I still have three weeks to get ready to go. I am building it up everyday - skiing hard until I start to feel the pain."

The World Championships will take place between 3 and 15 February in Val d'Isere in France.