Olympic heartbreak again for skier Pam
Strathaven skier Pam Thorburn has been left heartbroken after missing out on the Winter Olympics for a third time.
The 31-year-old claims she has been snubbed by Team GB – despite the International Olympic Committee offering her a spot to compete in South Korea this week.
It’s been a difficult year for Pam, with injury and illness hampering her attempts to make the Games in Pyeongchang. She did not make the Brtish qualifying criteria as a result, but was still offered a spot to compete as one of the world’s top 32 athletes.
Her disappointment is made all the more painful after two previous bids also hit the buffers.
She was denied a spot at Vancouver 2010 in the alpine section when she made the Olympic qualification standard, but Snowsport GB, who funded the athletes, went bust and Pam was unable to compete.
Pam soon switched disciplines to ski-cross and four years later in Sochi she missed out when Britain took a 56-strong squad to Russia but
chose not to select any ski-cross competitors.
And in an emotional post on her Instagram page, Pam explained to her followers she had, once again, been denied the chance to realise a lifelong dream.
Pam said:“I can’t believe I’m writing this. Every fibre of my being believed I would be representing Team GB at the Olympic Games in Korea.
“I know I will find some strength from this, but right now all I can feel is completely heartbroken.
“Team GB will be offered a spot from the International Olympic Committee for me to compete as one of the top-32 ladies in the world but will turn this spot down. I didn’t meet the British set criteria this year, even being ranked within those top girls in the world.
“This Olympic qualifying period has just not been on my side. A lot of cancelled races due to weather, and crashing, injuring my shoulder again before Christmas when I finished that race one place away from qualifying... even with the crash.
“Getting floored with the worst sickness I’ve ever experienced took me out for the first races of the year, and my shoulder injury meant I just couldn’t safely start the last race.
“I feel like I’ve not just let myself down, but all of my supporters too. I did everything I could, my broken body just couldn’t take the strain. I wish massive luck to all of @teamgb. Congrats guys and enjoy, I’ll be cheering!”
A BOA spokesperson said: “Unfortunately Pam did not make the British Olympic Association and British Ski and Snowboard’s qualification criteria for PyeongChang 2018.
“We wish her well in future competition.”