Anna Turney blog: Memories from the Winter Paralympics

We hope you didn’t miss the action out in Milano Cortina, as the Winter Paralympians ‘sent it’ as our very own Athlete Mentor, Anna Turney would say!

As a two-time Winter Paralympic Athlete – we thought there is no better person than Anna to share her thoughts on the action and her experiences and memories of when she competed. So, sit back, switch on some highlights from the Games and enjoy this blog from Anna:

I couldn’t wait to turn on the TV every morning and committing to work was trickier than usual last week! What a buzz watching our athletes send it!

The winter Paralympics are the absolute pinnacle of sport; they exemplify toughness, determination, resilience and so much more. At home, we’ll sit and watch the grand finale, their five minutes of glory or disappointment. But what we don’t see is the actual hard work that has gone on behind the scenes. Up and down the same hills in all weathers, tireless dedication to doing your best at something. Training, crashing, shaving off tenths of designs, qualifying, selection. It’s a bit like learning a language - you absolutely must keep working at it all the time and when you think you’ve got it, you’ll discover a new expression. But the buzz of racing down those hills skiing fast is unparalleled!

It’s 12 years since I retired after Sochi 2014, which worked out to three Paralympic cycles. Before that, my journey begun after an accident in Japan, where I was lying paralysed – the extra gut punch was that I had to watch the British athlete I’d competed against Torino 2006. That was a tough day!

But fast-forward four years and I was on the start-line in 2010 at Vancouver and as a rank outsider, I astonished everyone, including myself, finishing sixth in my first games, which was excellent preparation for Sochi 2014. And, as I write this blog, Milano Cortina has bought back the excitement of snow sports – there is no doubt in my mind that the winter games are extreme, some may say insane!

The challenges these winter athletes face are incredible and we only see a tiny glimpse – there are so many variables, and you only have a minute to lay it down under immense pressure. Please do no underestimate the skills these athletes have had to develop over the years – whether that be persistence, focus and the immense drive needed. They maybe competing in individual sports, but teamwork is also essential.

The team sent to Milano Cortina was a blend of experience and youthful exuberance with three teenagers having the joy of representing their country on the grandest stage. With an eye on the 2030 Games in the French Alps, this Games has been perfect preparation for yet more medals. Neil Simmons and his guide took home a brilliant silver medal. Menna Fitzpatrick our most decorated Winter Paralympian exemplified determined resilience after overcoming recent injuries, whilst Guide Rob Poth became GB’s first ever Motor Neuron Athlete to compete at the Games.

Despite the success, every Games has its disappointments and for the British curlers, snowboarders, Alpine and Cross-country skiers missing out on medals is a tough one – and it’s a feeling I can relate to all to well. I crashed twice and finished fourth in Sochi 2014, but one thing I can say is that these Games have bought back the immense pride of representing GB.

As I close this blog, I wanted to highlight the passion and dedication these athletes have shown. Some of my old teammates Sean Rose and Jade Etherington summed it up perfectly on the Channel 4 coverage. But all the athletes gave it their all over these Games and it’s rekindled my passion and allowed me to taste the thrill one more time!

For a nation without many mountains, we did ourselves proud and are setting ourselves up for a competitive next winter Paralympic cycle which is so exciting to see.

As I close, there maybe athletes from this Games that will be retiring and moving onto adventures new – for me, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, Evolve to Thrive and the True Athlete Project were instrumental in showing me the way after the retirement – what athletes have achieved in their sports, the successes, the failures, the commitment, dedication to improve can still be shown even after laying down the ski’s or the snowboard.

For me that’s showing young people that anything is possible and that from each of our stories, lessons can be learned to ensure that young people can realise their true potential.

It’s been such an exciting Games, thank you for thrilling me once again, onwards and upwards to the 2030 Games!