After suffering an injury blow just days from the start of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Australia's aerials medal hope Laura Peel doesn't have far to look for inspiration.
Peel can simply turn to Australia's team chef de mission Alisa Camplin, who made an incredible return from two broken ankles to win gold in the 2002 Games.
Two-time world champion Peel suffered a knee injury at training, although the extent of the damage hasn't been made public by the Australian Olympic team, which issued a brief statement on Tuesday (local time).
"Laura Peel has sustained a knee injury during a pre Games training camp in Airolo, Switzerland," the statement read.
"Peel sustained the injury yesterday (Monday), upon which she was transferred to Zug in Switzerland for an MRI scan at a sports specialist clinic.
"She has returned to the training camp in Airolo Switzerland where she’ll be treated by the team physio to determine next steps."
It's a cruel blow given Peel has kept relatively injury-free in the high-risk sport, with ankle surgery 10 years ago her last major injury, although she did go under the knife in May to remove some floating bone from her knee.
Set to compete in her fourth Olympics, Canberra product Peel is one of Australia's best medal prospects after returning to form to win a World Cup event last month.
Australia's flag-bearer at the last Games in Beijing, Peel also entered those Olympics as the favourite, but failed to stick her landing in the medal round and placed fifth.
Camplin recently spoke of her desire for Peel and her aerial cohorts, including fellow medal hope Danielle Scott, to deliver their best at the Milan-Cortina Games, which open on Friday night (local time).
The new team boss famously overcame two ankle fractures, sustained in training just weeks before the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, to win a historic aerials gold medal.
Four years later she again pushed through pain and returned four months after ACL surgery to jump to bronze in Turin.
"The heritage of Australian aerialists over nearly three decades is astronomical, and Laura and Dani are both, in my opinion, the best we've ever had, which is a big call given we've had Lydia Lassila, who is a gold and bronze medallist," Camplin said.
"Both of those women are doing fantastic triples and have been on the podium many times over the last four years ... and on any given day if Laura and Dani can land their jumps that will put them right in the mix.
"I don't think there will be many people praying more than me that it all works out for our aerial team - every athlete works hard and is deserving of a great outcome, but it would be wonderful to see Laura and Dani have a highlight performance at these Games."
The women's aerials will be held in Livigno on February 17 (local time), which will give 36-year-old Peel additional time to recover.
She is also due to be a part of Australia's first ever entry in the mixed team event, alongside Scott and Reilly Flanagan, four days later.
Members of the 53-strong Australian team continue to arrive in Italy, with mogul skiers and snowboard cross athletes settling in at Livigno, near the Swiss border, which will host their events.
Snowboarders Tess Coady, Meila Stalker and Ally Hickman, who will be the first Australians in action in the big air event, have taken part in practice, with qualifying getting under way on Thursday (local time).
