Team GB medal hopeful Katie Ormerod ruled out of Winter Olympics with fractured heel bone

The 20-year-old is set to undergo emergency surgery on her right heel bone

This is the second major injury of Ormerod’s career having broken her back in training last year (Getty)

Team GB’s Katie Ormerod has been ruled out of the Winter Olympics after suffering a “severe fracture” in her right heel bone.

The 20-year-old snowboarder, who was set to make her first appearance at the Winter Games, was one of Britain’s major medal hopefuls but will now be unavailable to compete in Pyeongchang and is set to undergo emergency surgery.

Ormerod had sustained a fractured wrist on Wednesday's first day of slopestyle training, but later returned on Thursday, intent on competing on Sunday. However, the British Olympic Association on Thursday night announced that the youngster would not be able to recover in time from her latest injury.

Mike Hay, Team GB chef de mission, said: “We are deeply sorry for Katie and her fellow snowboarders who have lost a valued member of their close-knit team. She is a world class competitor across both disciplines and we are desperately disappointed for her.

Katie Ormerod in training ahead of the Winter Olympics (Getty)

“From everyone at Team GB we wish all her all the best for her recovery.”

Last year Ormerod broke her back in training ahead of the World Championships in Spain but went on to make a rapid recovery.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent last month, the snowboarder revealed that she had been “lucky” to have only been sidelined for six weeks after the injury.

Given the nature of her discipline, Ormerod has sustained a number of injuries during her career, including a snapped anterior cruciate knee ligament and fractured shoulder bone.

The Briton was set to represent in snowboard slopestyle and snowboard big air at the Winter Games and had been tipped to land at least one medal.