UK Sport congratulated Jenny Jones after she made history today winning a bronze medal in the Slopestyle Snowboarding at Sochi 2014 to secure Great Britain’s first ever Winter Olympic medal on snow.
Liz Nicholl, UK Sport Chief Executive, said: "UK Sport is hugely proud to have supported Jenny Jones as a member of our National Lottery funded World Class Performance Programme. It’s wonderful to see all the hard work and dedication of Jenny, her coaches and support staff, realised when it mattered the most.
"Jenny winning a historic first British Olympic medal on snow, in the new slopestyle snowboarding discipline, will create a huge sense of excitement and momentum within the team.
"UK Sport has invested over £14 million of National Lottery and Government funding into athletes representing Great Britain at the Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and set a target of winning at least three Olympic medals, so Jenny has got the team off to a sensational start."
Slopestyle is making its debut at the Winter Olympic Games and British Ski and Snowboard has benefitted from more than £1.5m of investment from UK Sport since 2012.
In an initiative designed to prevent injury, while continuing to push the boundaries of human performance, UK Sport has supported the team with the development of the world’s first bespoke reduced risk air bag for use within the indoor snow domes in the UK.
Athletes across the snowboard disciplines train together at home and abroad, where they can access both fantastic indoor facilities for dry land training, to safely practice new skills and tricks, as well as the world’s finest outdoor facilities, all the while accessing expert coaching, strength and conditioning support, and, of course, crucial physiotherapy and rehabilitation input – key to a fast paced, acrobatic sport where pushing the boundaries and taking risks are key to success and where injuries are commonplace.
Speaking before the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, bronze medalist Jenny Jones said: "UK Sport funding has definitely made life easier. My physio and trainer see our sport as similar to rugby, with lots of impact injuries, which you've got to keep on top of."
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