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Anna dreamed of representing her country as an Olympic snowboarder, but then broke her spine in a training accident. She reappraised her goals and learned to mono-ski, finishing sixth in Vancouver and fourth in Sochi. Anna talks about the journey, the fear of trying to ski again and the need for single-minded focus. Whilst friendly competition is key to team morale, she also explains how being beaten by less talented sportspeople is a great motivator.
View / Submit“She had the most amazing presence, quite overwhelming.”
Windsor High School and Sixth Form
Anna Turney is a paralympic skier and was a member of the most successful GB Winter Paralympic team to date.
A passionate snowboarder, it was Anna’s dream to represent Great Britain at the Winter Olympics. However, the dream ended when, whilst training in Japan, Anna overshot a 30 foot tabletop (a steep sided up and down jump with a long flat middle section). The accident left Anna with a broken spine and facing life in a wheelchair.
After the shock of never being able to pursue her dreams, Anna reappraised what life in a wheelchair might hold and started investigating mono-skiing. With utter determination she raced through rehab and spent the anniversary of her accident on the snow learning to mono-ski in Colorado. She was later talent-spotted in France by the GB Team coaches, and Anna joined them in training. Having watched the Torino Winter Olympics from her hospital bed, just four years later, Anna finished sixth in the Vancouver Olympics 2010. She went on to compete in three separate competitions in the 2014 Sochi Paralympics.
Anna talks about the journey, the fear of trying to ski again and the need for single-minded focus. Whilst friendly competition is key to team morale, she also explains how being beaten by less talented sportspeople is a great motivator.
Anna has also competed at World and European championships. She now focuses on fund raising for Disability Snowsport UK and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.
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