Sochi 2014: Katie Summerhayes, Team GB's Freestyle Skiing Hope, Profiled

Summerhayes To Shine In Winter? Team GB's Medal Hope Profiled
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Katie Summerhayes is one of Britain's brightest hopes at the Sochi Winter Olympics, where she will compete in the ski slopestyle final on Tuesday morning.

The 18-year-old came third in the qualifiers to give Team GB hope of earning only their second ever medal on snow - 48 hours after Jenny Jones claimed the first in the snowboard equivalent.

Summerhayes carded a very respectable 81.40 first time around, then bettered it to 84.00 in her second run to comfortably finish in the top 12 who qualify for the final, which gets under way at 1300 local time (0900GMT).

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Summerhayes celebrates during the Freestyle Skiing Women's Slopestyle Qualification

The Sheffield teenager was quick to play down expectations and believes any one of the 22 athletes competing at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park are capable of topping the podium.

"Every competition is so unpredictable," she told Press Association Sport. "The weather could be bad on the day, which means that people can't be doing the best. I honestly think anyone can win.

"My expectations are just to be happy with how I performed, that's all you can ask for.

"But I really want to make finals, that would be something I'd be happy with."

Here are some facts about the teen:

  • Born: 8 October 1995
  • Suffered a career-threatening knee injury a few years ago
  • Won the first World Cup skiing medal by a British female in 19 years when she secured silver
  • So starstruck when she met Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis she ran off
  • Her favourite films are Twilight, New Moon, Paranormal Activity and Never Say Never
  • She lists The Last Song and the Twilight series as her favourite books
Katie Summerhayes
Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics(01 of29)
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STOCKPORT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been digitally altered) Katie Summerhayes of Team GB Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard poses at the Team GB Kitting Out on January 23, 2014 in Stockport, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle Qualification- Winter Olympics Day 4(02 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes during the Freestyle Skiing Ladies' Ski Slopestyle Qualification at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(03 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(04 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain ceebrates during the Freestyle Skiing Women's Slopestyle Qualification during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(05 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain ceebrates during the Freestyle Skiing Women's Slopestyle Qualification during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(06 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(07 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(08 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain ceebrates during the Freestyle Skiing Women's Slopestyle Qualification during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(09 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes during the Freestyle Skiing Women's Slopestyle Qualification during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(10 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(11 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Great Britain's Katie Summerhayes competes in the Women's Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle qualification at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(13 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(14 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Around the Games: Day 0 - 2014 Winter Olympic Games(15 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 07: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain practices during a Slopestyle official training session ahead of the the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Around the Games: Day 0 - 2014 Winter Olympic Games(16 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 07: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain practices during a Slopestyle official training session ahead of the the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(17 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Freestyle Skiing - Winter Olympics Day 4(18 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain competes in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
OLY-2014-FREESTYLE-SLOPESTYLE-WOMEN(19 of29)
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Great Britain's Katie Summerhayes competes in the Women's Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle qualification at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 11, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Previews - Winter Olympics Day -2(20 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 05: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain trains during Ski Slopestyle practice at the Extreme Park at Rosa Khutor Mountain ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 5, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Previews - Winter Olympics Day -2(21 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 05: Katie Summerhayes and James 'Woodsy' Woods of Great Britain pose for a picture at the base of the Olympia Gondola on February 5, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Previews - Winter Olympics Day -2(22 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 05: Katie Summerhayes and James 'Woodsy' Woods of Great Britain pose for a picture at the base of the Olympia Gondola on February 5, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Previews - Winter Olympics Day -2(23 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 05: Katie Summerhayes and James 'Woodsy' Woods of Great Britain pose for a picture at the base of the Olympia Gondola on February 5, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Previews - Winter Olympics Day -2(24 of29)
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SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 05: Katie Summerhayes and James 'Woodsy' Woods of Great Britain pose for a picture at the base of the Olympia Gondola on February 5, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics(25 of29)
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STOCKPORT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Katie Summerhayes of Team GB Freestyle Skiing poses for a portrait during the kitting out day at adidas on January 23, 2014 in Stockport, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics(26 of29)
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STOCKPORT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain tries on her uniform during the Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics on January 23, 2014 in Stockport, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics(27 of29)
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STOCKPORT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Katie Summerhayes of Team GB Freestyle Skiing poses for a portrait during the kitting out day at adidas on January 23, 2014 in Stockport, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics(28 of29)
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STOCKPORT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain tries on her uniform during the Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics on January 23, 2014 in Stockport, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Team GB Kitting Out ahead of Sochi Winter Olympics(29 of29)
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STOCKPORT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been digitally altered) Katie Summerhayes of Team GB Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard poses at the Team GB Kitting Out on January 23, 2014 in Stockport, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)