CHARLOTTE WORTHINGTON will head to the Paris Olympics as reigning champion in the women’s BMX freestyle, but her journey since taking a thrilling gold in Tokyo has been a bit of a rollercoaster.

Worthington catapulted herself to overnight fame when she became the first woman to deliver a backflip 360 in competition and win the first ever Olympic gold in the sport’s debut three years ago.

The Mancunian is used to looking at the world upside down but what followed flipped everything on its head for Worthington, who had gone to Japan without much pressure or expectation after a rapid rise for a late starter.