SNOWBOARDING superstar Katie Ormerod has bounced back from two years of injury hell to become world champion, reward for never giving up, "no matter how impossible it seemed".

The 22-year-old, from Brighouse, has become the first British snowboarder to win a World Cup title, after the final event in the Czech Republic, scheduled for next weekend, was cancelled over coronavirus concerns.

But Ormerod has by no means won the title by default. She made the podium at all four World Cup slopestyle events that went ahead this year, peaking with a runners-up spot at Seiser Alm in Italy this January.

She also earned three yellow bibs for leading the world rankings at three of those four events.

It is a remarkable return for Ormerod, in her first full season of competitive action since a career-threatening injury in February 2018.

She was days away from competing at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang when she suffered a broken heel in training. The rehabilitation period was long and painful, and caused her to miss two full season on the slopes.

But her determination to recover has certainly proved worthwhile.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus after being crowned world champion, Ormerod said: "It's definitely the best feeling in my career so far, coming back from serious injury to become to the first in the UK to win a world slopestyle title.

"I had five World Cup podiums, four out of four in the slopestyle this year and one in a big air event before Christmas.

"I had three yellow bibs for leading the world rankings at the last three slopestyle events too."

The joy in Ormerod's voice was clear to hear, hardly surprising when you consider what she's been through over the last two years.

She explained: "I was about to compete in Pyeongchang but I broke my heel pretty badly. I had seven operations and missed two competitive seasons.

"The rehab was difficult because physically, I felt strong, but I couldn't walk without limping or being in pain.

"But I was always very positive and I really wanted to get back snowboarding as soon as possible, no matter how impossible it seemed.

"I kept pushing and I've come back a better snowboarder. I even put some new tricks into the runs during the World Cup.

"The next big target for me is the (Winter) Olympics in Beijing in 2022 and the qualification events for that start this summer."