Yorkshire duo Harding and Summerhayes miss out on Olympic medals

The 16-year-old eventually had to settle for fifth place in yesterday’s final after she failed to improve on her first run of the day where she scored 55.00points.

Summerhayes had qualified for the final from the heats 24 hours earlier on Saturday in fifth place but failed to upset the odds in the medal showdown in Innsbruck.

But the Sheffield skier, who was selected as Team GB’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremony on Friday, remained upbeat after her first taste of Olympic action.

“I’m so stoked with fifth place. I said I wanted to come away with a top-five result, so to be able to get that is really pleasing,” said Summerhayes. “Just being here with this quality of competition has been great and it’s all good experience for me.

“It was great that my family, coaches and so many of the other Team GB athletes were there to support me – it was great to come down to the bottom of the pipe and see them waving the flag.

“I’m going to watch the curlers and support everyone else now that my competition is over. It’s been such an amazing experience here at the Youth Olympics.”

Meanwhile Halifax freestyle skier Tyler Harding also made it to the halfpipe final on the men’s side of the draw but came home in tenth overall after recording scores of 62.75 and 31.25. “I’m a bit gutted that I didn’t get the second run right, but it’s good to be here and to get my first round down in such a massive competition, my first for Team GB and first Olympic experience,” said Harding.

“Overall I’m happy with what I’ve got. The pipe was absolutely amazing so I did one of the best runs I could have done. Everyone else is doing such massive tricks that have hardly ever been seen before by 15 and 16-year-olds.

“Some of the best guys in the world are here and if I want to be up there with the best I have to start doing these tricks so it’s inspired me in that way.

“If they can do it, then why can’t I? I’m definitely going to go and train hard for Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and get lots of experience at competitions.”

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games.