Hemel Hempstead's Charlotte Bankes out of Winter Olympics
She'd been billed as one of Team GB's gold medal hopes
Last updated 9th Feb 2022
Great Britain's hopes of winning a first gold medal on snow were dashed as favourite Charlotte Bankes was eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the women's snowboard-cross in Beijing.
The 26-year-old recovered from a slow start to lead for much of the race but was pushed wide on a bend, allowing Tess Critchlow to take a lead she did not relinquish.
Australian Belle Brockhoff, whom Bankes had earlier edged out in her heat, also squeezed past the Briton to claim a semi-final place.
The top three were separated by just 0.09seconds but with only two progressing to the semi-finals, Bankes left to rue what might have been.
Bankes had switched to represent Great Britain in 2018 having raced for France at her first two Olympics in Sochi and Pyeongchang, where she finished in seventh and 17th respectively.
Her struggle to fully recover from a pelvic injury she sustained in 2011 contributed to her decision to switch nationalities, her relationship with the French federation having deteriorated to the point she admitted she was seriously considering retirement.
Linking up with Great Britain afforded her a further opportunity, and within a year she had won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Utah, behind Eva Samkova.
Last year Bankes went one better, beating Michela Moioli and Samkova to claim the world title in Idre Fjall, Sweden, raising expectations for her first Games in GB colours.
Her status as favourite was strengthened by the absence of the Czech Republic's Samkova, the Sochi gold medallist who has not recovered from ankle surgery in December.
Bankes was second-fastest in the individual ranking round, eclipsed only by Italy's Moioli, and cruised through her eighth final in first place ahead of Brockhoff.
But Brockhoff got revenge in the quarter-final and ended Bankes' medal hopes in the individual event.
Bankes said: "I gave it my all but it's frustrating to have the worst race of my season here at the Olympics.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself and I felt I dealt with it pretty well. Unfortunately I didn't do the race I wanted to do today, and it's frustrating to do it at the Olympics."
In pictures: Who is most likely to win a medal for Great Britain?
Charlote Bankes - Snowboard cross
Charlotte Bankes will be representing Great Britain in snowboard cross at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. She represented France at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics but has been competing for Great Britain after the 2018-2019 season.
Brad Hall - Bobsleigh
Brad Hall will be competing in Beijing for Team GB once again, as he has also competed in both the two-man event and the four-man event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Hall has also won World Cup medals as a pilot in both 2-man and 4-man bobsleigh.
Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds - Curling
Scots Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds compete in the men's and women's curling team events. The Beijing Olympics will be the first olympiad for both athletes.
Mouat competes as skip and Dodds as Eve Muirhead's sidekick.
Gus Kenworthy - Freestyle skiing
Essex-born Gus Kenworthy first started competing for Great Britain in 2019. Before that, he was representing the US in competitions even winning a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Kirsty Muir - Freestyle skiing
At only 17, Kirsty Muir represents one of TeamGB's best medal hopes. She won a number of junior titles growing up, getting her first senior international gold in 2019 in the slopestyle event. In March last year she won a World Cup silver medal in the ski slopestyle competiton.
Katie Ormerod - Snowboarding
Katie Ormerod was a big hope for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang but had to withdraw due to injury. This time around she'll be looking for medals in the slopestyle and big air snowboarding.
Dave Ryding - Alpine Skiing
Dave Ryding is already a three-time olympian and will be racing in the Alpine skiing event in Beijing