Shepherd's career as an athlete ended when she sustained life-threatening injuries when hit by a truck during a training bike ride, while in contention to win Australia's first ever medal at the Winter Olympics.

After achieving success on the World circuit, she was given the offer of training with the Canadian team in the leadup to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

[1] In 1986, Shepherd was cycling through the Blue Mountains in New South Wales as part of her training regime, when she was hit by a vehicle, suffering massive injuries.

[2] She suffered a broken neck and back, lost five litres of blood, had severe lacerations to her abdominal area.

Her right leg was ripped open, her collarbone and five ribs were fractured, and she suffered serious internal injuries, but she survived.