Rachel Atherton interview: Downhill race ace credits Shropshire countryside

The 27-year-old credits the wonderful surroundings and training facilities in the Shropshire borders for a large part of her success.

She grew up in the countryside where the lack of activities for children in the local area played a huge role in launching her career.

And now she is established as one of the UK's elite athletes, rubbing shoulders last week with the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill after being nominated for the Sportswoman of the Year Awards

Rachel, a former pupil of the Marches School in Oswestry, may now be used to travelling globally, but her roots are firmly established in this region.

"My older brother Dan started riding first and then my next brother Gee got involved," she said.

"We lived in the middle of the countryside so there wasn't much to do. It gave us something to do with all the other kids in the village. I think all kids ride bikes."

The family moved to Llanrhaeadr, near Oswestry, 15 years ago, and Rachel said the local facilities have been a great help to her and her brothers.

"Now we've got the team HQ in Llangynog and there's a bike park there which is amazing, and most of the top riders come here to train.

"It's great having them on the doorstep," she said.

Rachel had already been riding for five years when the family moved to this region.

She said: "My brothers started doing BMX racing when I was seven and forced me to have a go. My parents split up at the same time, so I went riding because it was when we saw dad, at the races at the weekends.

"I really enjoyed it, which is unusual because a lot of girls and women don't seem to enjoy the competitive side. We started racing mountain bikes a few years later and I was good right from the start.

"I remember going to watch the Downhill World Cup in Fort William when I was 15, and a British girl won, and that's the point I thought 'I want to be like that, that good'."

Having persuaded her parents to let her drop out of college, Rachel quickly made an impact, winning her first world title in 2008, in only her second year of racing.

"Gee also won his first title the same day as I did, so that was fantastic," she remembered. "You start your career with no expectations, and to realise you were good and at the top of your sport is amazing."

But her career looked to have hit rock bottom the following year when she was involved in a head on collision with a pick-up truck while out on a casual training road ride at the start of 2009.

She had been riding with Gee and Dan in California when the crash happened, dislocating her shoulder and leaving her with cuts and bruises.

While Gee joked at the time that he had "seen her in worse condition, but not by much", for a long time it was doubtful that his sister would ever ride again.

"The crash was the low point, and the injuries I've had," she said. "You can't really accept them but you've got to, although it doesn't make it any easier. It's so frustrating.

"I had a year out with operations, and you lose your sense of self because you've been so involved in riding before. Then you get back on the bike eventually and you feel like you've been reborn."

Fortunately, the crash didn't diminish her abilities, as Rachel went on to regain the world championship in 2013, and again this year, adding it to the downhill mountain bike World Cup after winning six of the seven rounds.

"When you've won everything for one year and you're at the top, the only way in theory is back down," she said.

"I'm going to try and stay on top for as long as possible, but it's tough – it's like you've got a big target on your back. It's a bit of a nerve-wracking experience."

She said a friendly rivalry with her brothers helps to keep her focussed and buoyed up during race weekend.

"There's a bit of sibling rivalry, and I think it's getting worse as we're getting older," she admitted.

"Now it's like if Gee or Dan do a big jump or get a good result I have to do better, and it's the same with them.

"Often we've had races where the women race in the morning and the men in the afternoon. I've won then Gee thinks he has to do well for the team, so I think it adds a bit of pressure."

Rachel has now been racing for 10 years, and admits that her focus is now starting to change.

Her goal for the future is to encourage more girls and women to try mountain biking, even if they don't end up competing.

"I think there's a lot that could be done," she said. "The women's side has grown massively in the last five years and a lot of women are getting on bikes for the first time.

"I'd say just try it. Find the nearest trail centre and hire a bike for the day for £20, and see if you enjoy it."