Telemark racer Taylor not looking for 'fairy tale'

Jasmin Taylor in competition at Krvavec, Slovenia in March

Britain's Jasmin Taylor is not aiming for any "fairy-tale ending" to her career in Telemark skiing after winning five World Cup titles in the past two years.

The 32-year-old won the classic, sprint and overall crowns last season but had to settle for two bronzes at the World Championships in France.

She admitted in the summer that she was thinking over her future in the sport, which she took up at the age of 15.

Taylor will, though, be on the start line when the 2025-26 season gets under way in Austria later this month.

"When you're 30 as an athlete, I think you realise, 'OK, my days are somewhat numbered and this is not going to be something I can do forever,' so just get out there and just totally appreciate it," she told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"I am so lucky to be able to do this and yeah, it's such a nice way to spend your life. I wish that I just didn't get lost in the stress of everything sometimes."

Taylor was born in Colchester, but is based in Ipswich after studying at the University of Suffolk, and has spent the summer working in the media while rehabilitating an elbow injury.

She became Britain's first World Championships medallist in the sport when she won a bronze at Steamboat Springs in the USA a decade ago.

But she was unable to improve on that at Les Contamines-Montjoie in March, when she came third in the sprint and classic events as a gold at the bi-annual World Championships again eluded her.

"This World Champs, it just didn't come together for me on those days," she said.

"That never leaves you feeling good, but I don't also just want to carry on because I want to tick that box, there's more to it."

Taylor will have to carry on until 2027 for another chance, but said: "Ultimately, it's just about fulfilling what you feel is your own potential, and if you've got the opportunity to carry on with something and you're not forced to retire, then of course, you've got to take the opportunity."

She said that despite the "hard slog" of training for another winter on the slopes, a chat with sport and exercise psychology lecturer Dr Emmanouil Georgiadis had refreshed her outlook.

Taylor added: "If it's not the fairy-tale ending, well life is not a fairy-tale ending, it sort of is what it is. I'd rather just know I've got nothing left and I've done everything I can do."

Telemark skiing events includes slalom, cross-country and ski-jumping elements, but the difference is that the skier's heels are not fixed to the skis.

You can hear the full interview with Jasmin Taylor on BBC Radio Suffolk later this month.