On top of the world

‘World champion. Four months ago I would never have dreamed I would be able to say that’

her run finished with a dramatic crash into the barriers at the foot of the mountain.

She said: “You have to have two training runs and we aimed to step up the speed and ‘find the seconds’.

“I probably took it a little bit far because when I crossed the line, I crashed doing 113kph.

“It hurt a lot, my whole body was a bruise, I’d hurt my ankle and banged my head – I had concussion. And that was on day one.”

Knight added: “I don’t remember much about what happened – just bits and bobs from that day. I do remember being in the ambulance and Doping Control watching me.

“I do remember the medal ceremony thankfully, it was a fantastic experience and to hear the National Anthem was just the best feeling.”

As a result of her injuries, Knight had to pull out of the super-giant slalom on Thursday and she said: “I was devastated to miss it.

“I was up for it but it would not have been a good decision and if I had raced, it could have knocked me out of the other races.

“Luckily the physio we had out there was fantastic. I saw her three times a day every day and her healing hands got me back out there.”

After finishing second in the super combined and giant slalom on her return, Knight claimed silver in the slalom on the final day of competition on Tuesday and said it was the perfect way to end the championships.

She added: “It was my best silver because it is my worst discipline but I was so excited to win all of my medals.

“It was the perfect way to end the week. I have to say my feelings after the final race were relief and excitement.

“I have been away for two months so I’m looking forward to getting home and seeing my friends. I am back at school on Thursday morning.”

Slovakian Henrieta Farkasova pipped Knight to gold on each occasion to become a 12-time world champion and Knight added: “She is a five-time Paralympic gold medallist and has been out for two years with injury.

“She is going to be stepping it up more and more and it’s great for me to have that competition.”

Knight will fly to South Korea on February 28 ahead of the Winter Paralympic test event in Pyeongchang, which is also the World Cup final and she added: “I have 26 gym sessions left. I want to get stronger. I can’t wait.”