Winter Olympics 2014: GB aiming for record medal haul

Billy Morgan

Sport: Snowboard slopestyle

Previous Winter Olympic experience: None

Form last season: 1st Big Air, London, 3rd World Cup Sierra Nevada, 4th World Snowboard Championships

Season starts: World Cup, New Zealand, 18 August

Morgan is a former acrobat and skateboarder who only started snowboarding at the age of 14 on a dry slope in Southampton and was 17 when he first rode on snow.

He has risen up the rankings quickly and became the first British male snowboarder to win an international event at the London Freeze Big Air.

Morgan became a YouTube sensation when he was filmed becoming the first snowboarder to perform the triple rodeo and backed that up with a backside triple cork 1440, which basically means four spins.

He only made his World Cup debut in November 2012 and finished third in Sierra Nevada in March 2013.

What he says: “When I heard slopestyle was going to be in the 2014 Olympics I thought it was great news but did not for one minute think I could be one of those competing.

“So to be doing well, I can’t quite believe what is happening to me.

“Getting on the podium in the World Cup was a really big thing for us and made me believe I have an opportunity to get a medal at the Olympics. I’ll be working hard on my tricks but the chance to go for gold is exciting.”