I’m fastest disabled woman on skis, says Heather (but that’s news to the Guinness Book of Records)
SHE is already a self-proclaimed activist, campaigner and inspirational public speaker. Now Heather Mills has added ‘fastest disabled woman on Earth’ to her extensive list of achievements.
The ex-wife of Sir Paul McCartney gave herself the title after skiing down a mountain at more than 100mph. It was, she claimed triumphantly, a new speed ski record for a disabled woman.
But there was confusion last night over exactly what record Miss Mills had broken. While undoubtedly an impressive feat, Guinness World Records said her attempt had not been ratified.
‘Someone from Heather’s team did make an application and although we consider it a great achievement, we do not monitor records based on disability unless they are official Paralympic records,’ a spokesman said.
‘We have not ratified the attempt, therefore it is not an official Guinness World Records title.’ Miss Mills, 47, appeared undeterred however, telling Hello! magazine of her delight at reaching a top speed of 103.6mph (166.7km/h) in the French Alpine resort of Vars last week.
Miss Mills, who lost the lower half of her left leg when she was knocked down by a police motorcycle in 1993, has been training for months with the Austrian speed skiing team. She wears a prosthetic leg.
Speed skiing, which is not an Olympic or Paralympic sport, uses steep courses just over half a mile long. The aim is to set the highest speed.
While there is a record for a disabled man of 132.76mph, there does not appear to be one for a disabled woman. It means that whatever speed Miss Mills reached, she could effectively declare it a world record. Her official website now carries the title World Record: The Fastest Disabled Woman on EARTH. Miss Mills could not be reached for comment last night.