Gillings is currently ranked number six in the world at snowboardercross.

Isle of Man snowboarder Zoe Gillings finished fourth in the Canadian FIS World Cup Final in Stoneham on Thursday despite carrying a heel injury.

The result sees the Manx snowboarder's world ranking rise to sixth as she moves closer to her goal of gold at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

Speaking after the event Gillings said: "I'm really happy with today's result.

"I wasn't sure if I would be fit enough to compete, so it was really exciting to get to the final."

Gillings is widely considered to be one of Britain's best hopes for a medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010 and performances like this are enhancing that opinion.

This was her third final of the season and with Vancouver less than twelve months away, Gillings is well on track to win an Olympic medal.

The 23-year-old finished second in her heat behind world number one Lyndsay Jacobellis, with world number two Sandra Frei in third place.

In the semi-final, Gillings again made a great start and finished on the heels of Jacobellis in second place to secure her progression to the final.

In the final Gillings again made an excellent start but lost her footing while negotiating the first banked turn, effectively ending her race.

Gillings will now now have a few days off to get intensive treatment on the heel injury she sustained at the X-Games three weeks ago.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version