OLYMPIC hero Jenny Jones took up snowboarding as a 17-year old student at Filton College.

The Sochi 2014 women’s snowboard slopestyle bronze medallist attended a free half an hour drop in lesson at the Churchill dry slope in Bristol and became hooked by the sport during a trip with the college to the Alps.

Jones, who lives in Dowend, followed her dream around winter seasons in Europe, funded by working in factories and bars back home during the summer months.

On the eve of the Sochi Games she thought her Olympic dream was over. Before Christmas she suffered concussion in a training accident in Austria and had to spend four weeks at home away from the snow.

However, she took inspiration from the story of Katherine Grainger, the rower who won Olympic gold, ending a run of three silvers, at the London 2012 Games.

“Her story really resonated with me,” Jones said.

“I don’t know much about rowing but I knew what she’d been through and how she had never given up.

“I watched her Olympic race on television and I was in tears. I learned so much from her determination.”

Samsung are a proud partner of Team GB and are supporting the Samsung Galaxy Team. To meet the team, see exclusive content and win amazing prizes, including once-in-a-lifetime winter sport training sessions with the Samsung Galaxy Team athletes, visit: www.samsung.com/uk/sochi2014