Stars in doubt ahead of Winter team naming

Snowboarders Torah Bright and Belle Brockhoff remain in doubt for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics ahead of the full Australian team announcement on Thursday.

Belle Brockhoff

Belle Brockhoff is in doubt for the Australian team at the Winter Olympics. (AAP)

The participation of snowboard stars Torah Bright and Belle Brockhoff at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics is likely to be known when the Australian team is unveiled on Thursday morning.

Fifteen days before the opening ceremony, the Australian Olympic Committee is expected to announce an approximately 60-strong team.

With six athletes in skating already picked, much attention will turn to snowboard and freeski sports - where Australia has won the majority of its 12 Winter Olympic medals.

Bright, Australia's most successful Winter Olympian with gold and silver in the halfpipe, has just a slim chance of selection after starting her qualification campaign late.

The 31-year-old has rarely competed since her silver in Sochi four years ago and achieved moderate success in the two recent World Cup events she contested as a last ditch bid to make the Games.

Emily Arthur and a veteran of three Games, Holly Crawford, are expected to take two spots in the women's halfpipe for Australia.

Snowboard cross Sochi Olympian Brockhoff has not given up her bid to compete having recently returned to the slopes after surgery for a ruptured ACL.

The 25-year-old, who suffered the injury in a training crash late last year, may be conditionally selected.

Reigning world champions Britt Cox (moguls) and Scotty James (snowboard halfpipe) are set to lead the Australian charge in PyeongChang, alongside the world No.1 in snowboard cross, Alex Pullin.

Vancouver 2010 gold medallist Lydia Lassila is preparing to compete at her fifth games, a record for an Australian woman, while fellow aerial skier David Morris is set to back up after winning silver in Sochi.

Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman will announced Australia's flag bearer on February 8, a day before the Games are opened.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM SO FAR: Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya, Harley Windsor, Kailani Craine, Brendan Kerry (figure Skating), Alex Ferlazzo (luge), Daniel Greig (speed skating), Andy Jung, Deanna Lockett (short track skating).


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Source: AAP


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Stars in doubt ahead of Winter team naming | SBS News