Gillings Olympic vow

Gillings will go for Olympic glory again in 2018 Credit: Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Manx snowboarder Zoe Gillings has promised she won't retire after finishing a fraction away from the Olympic Snowboard Cross final.

Gillings fought her way from the back of the field to finish fourth in her semi-final, after a photo finish. She was just inches away from a top three position, which would have booked her place in the Olympic final.

Gillings, who then finished third in the small final to secure ninth place overall, later promised she will target the 2018 games in South Korea.

The snowboard cross gold medal went to Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic. Samkova executed a clear run to ease to victory ahead of World Cup leader Dominique Maltais of Canada, with French teenager Chloe Trespeuch taking bronze.

Earlier, Norwegian Helene Olafsen was carried off the course on a stretcher after crashing in the first of two qualification runs, while American Jacqueline Hernandez was lifted off the course in the next race after a horrendous crash which left her unconscious.