Millie Knight

At only 15-years-old, Millie Knight participated in Sochi 2014 to become the youngest British athlete to ever compete at a Paralympic Winter Games. She was also named Great Britain’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony. Even though she left the Russian city without a medal, Knight was only starting a so far short but fruitful career.

With PyeongChang 2018 fast approaching, Knight is hoping to reach the Paralympic podium for the first time in her career, encouraged by her most recent performances.

In 2015, the British alpine skier won silver in the women’s giant slalom visually impaired and bronze in the slalom at her first World Championships in Panorama, Canada.

Last season was her most successful. Knight took Great Britain’s only gold medal at Tarvisio 2017 in the downhill. She followed that up with three silvers in the giant slalom, slalom and super-combined.

She also finished first in the super-combined and downhill World Cup rankings, finishing second in the overall rankings behind her main opponent Henrieta Farkasova of Slovakia.

Knight lost the majority of the sight in both eyes due to an infection at a young age. She took up skiing at age seven while on holiday in Meribel, France, encouraged by her mother, who also became her first guide.

In 2013, she began training with the national Paralympic development squad. She was named the 2014 Woman of the Year in Canterbury, England.