Zoë Gillings-Brier missed out on a medal at this year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea on Friday morning.

The Manx snowboard-cross star was competing in her fourth Games (a record for a British snowboarder), her first since becoming a mother last year.

The action began in the early hours of Friday morning (GMT) at Phoenix Park in Pyeong chang and the former Isle of Man Sportswoman of the Year was lying 14, after the first qualification run.

Gillings-Brier then improved on her second run to claim fifth and therefore qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition.

Needing a top-three finish to qualify for the semi-finals, the Manx woman looked on course to make it to the last eight, only to narrowly miss out to France’s Nelly Moenne Loccoz when finishing fourth. This ended her hopes of an Olympic medal. Overall, Gillings-Brier finished 13th.

In the big final itself, Italy’s Michela Moioli clinched the gold medal in style ahead of French teenager Julia Pereira de Sousa Mabileau in silver and defending champion Eva Samkova who picked up bronze for the Czech Republic.

Speaking after the quarter-finals, Zoë told iomtoday: ’I had a great time today. I was dis

appointed I didn’t into the semi-finals but I’m happy with how I rode and I tried all I could.

’I’m proud of passing the reigning Olympic champion (Samkova) around the fourth corner, unfortunately she passed me again a few seconds later!

’It was a super big course and I’d had trouble in training, meaning the first time I made it all the way down the course was this morning, 30 minutes before the competition started!

’My first aim was just to stay on my feet and I’m happy to have made it to the bottom in one piece.’

A keen Tweeter, Zoë posted on Twitter after her event: ’Gave it my absolute best, finished 13th. Obviously would have liked to have progressed but I was happy with what I could do on the day.

’Huge, huge thanks to everyone for all the support, it meant so much. Thank you @foster_jimbo (James Foster) - a legend of a coach.’

Gillings-Brier was also quick to pay tribute to the support she’s received far and wide before and during the Games:

’As always, a massive thank you to the whole of the island and Isle of Man Sport Aid for all the support.

’The number of good luck messages I got pre-race was amazing!

’The British and Manx support out here has been fantastic - there were a bunch of British flags in the crowd plus one Manx one brought out by my parents.

’I’ve got a few weeks off now and then I’m back on snow for the World Cup finals in mid-March.’

So, having become the first British snowboarder to compete at four Winter Olympics - having participated in Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and now Korea - will Gillings-Brier attempt to extend that record further when the Games again take place in the Far East in Beijing 2022?

’I’m keen to keep competing for as long as I can,’ commented Zoë.

’I’m having a great time in the sport and loving the atmosphere in the British team at the moment so I have no plans on stopping any time soon.’