Super skater Steph to compete in Olympics
RUNCORN skating sensation Stephanie Gott has been named in the Great Britain squad heading to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria this month.
Super-talented Steph, 19, will among 21 athletes on the team, 11 of those alpine skiers and 10 figure skaters.
Steph was born with a congenital heart condition and had surgery to ‘swap’ her two main arteries when she was only 18 days old.
It was only when she started school it was discovered she also had a stroke when she was a baby.
This left her with a weak right arm and leg.
Destiny called when her sister Suzanne McDonnell bought her some skating lessons and she has never looked back.
Steph also recently met British ice skating icons Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who have sent their best wishes to all Team Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) athletes and all countries competing at #Austria2017.
Suzanne, 30, who will be cheering her in Austria, said: “It is pretty amazing considering the problems she had when she was younger.
“She was really clumsy and used to fall and stumble a lot.
“She is incredible to watch on the ice. It is an amazing journey.”
Pamela Richardson Delaney, her tutor at Deeside Leisure Centre, said: “She has done amazingly well and achieved more because of her disability.
“It has helped strengthen her legs.
“She was quite wobbly when she first started.
“Stephanie had to memorise an intricate two minute free skating routine and loves to travel as part of the Olympic squad.
“It is wonderful she’s been chosen.”
Readers can follow the team on Twitter at #TEAMSOGB, @SOGreatBritain and #Austria2017 ●