Laura Bird is dreaming about competing in the Winter Olympics again.

Bird, rated the best ice skater in Sussex, quit the sport five months ago.

But the flame of ambition has been re-kindled.

She fell out of love with the sport and suffered burnout.

Laura said: "My skating career went pear-shaped. I got so upset. I was working so hard and getting worse.

"I'd lost my enjoyment. I began to question myself. Why do I do the sport? Why don't I enjoy it anymore? Why am I not happy? I'd always felt I belonged on the ice. It had been my life. It was a terrible time.

"It wasn't about me losing my focus. I was single-minded and wasn't jealous about not being able to go out clubbing with my mates. I never felt I missed out because I had my goals.

"I believe it was was a mixture of over-training and not producing the competition results that I felt I could produce.

"I didn't have a proper schedule. I had lessons with Joanne Conway (a former British Olympian) at Guildford, but the rest of the week was up to me to sort out. I tried to pack in too much like fitness sessions, a gym instructors' course and a job at a gym.

"I was staying away from home so I could be close to Guildford. It was all too much, something had to give."

The figure skater rediscovered her passion after a chance meeting with her first coach Jill Simpson, the former owner of the Sussex Ice Rink, just before Christmas. They have started weekly two-and-half-hour training sessions at the Brighton rink and get together at Guildford.

Laura said: "Jill had stopped coaching but when we met we spoke about what I was going through. I was missing my skating as it had always been a part of my life.

"Since then it has been brilliant. I've rediscovered my appetite. All the dreams I had as a little girl of going to the Olympics that had disappeared, returned.

"My first major goal is to compete at the British Championships in November. I'm completely back on track.

"I don't want to rush things. I'm taking it a step at a time, a competition at a time, but I'm looking to rejoin the circuit in April."

Laura, 20, will not be linking up again with Conway.

"It is nothing personal against Joanne, we still get on. Her lessons were good for me because I learned how to perform on a big rink. But I want a clean break from a period that reminds me of when things weren't working out."

Jayne Torvill, who lives near Heathfield and won a gold medal with Christopher Dean at the 1984 Games, wished Laura good luck and offered her advice.

She said: "Laura must work hard and remain single-minded but she has to have fun in order to make to the Olympics."

Laura said: "Jayne's an inspiration with dedication and commitment. What she has achieved has been fantastic. I appreciate what she says as I've had a small taste of what it takes."

She has also gained motivation from the Holiday On Ice show at the Brighton Centre last month.

"I was able to talk to the skaters, who were national champions from Russian, Poland and the United States. They gave me tips, like how to land a triple."

Bird has been watching the skating at the Olympics from Salt Lake City this week. She said: "There has been one major role model I've been following: Michelle Kwan, from the United States, who is favourite for a gold medal.

"I've got plenty of things to help me dream of being where she is, but the main thing is that I'm in love my sport again. I feel like I belong on the ice once more and it is a wonderful feeling."

Simpson is delighted. She said: "Laura's sparkle is back. She has the most potential of any skater in Sussex."