Super skier Menna, 19, wins bronze in her first Paralympic Games
HURTLING down a ski slope at speeds of over 60mph would get the adrenaline pumping for anyone.
But for 19-year-old Menna Fitzpatrick each run carries incredible risks, as the teen has got just five percent vision.
But every one of her training runs has paid off for the Cardiff-based teen, as she won a bronze medal at her first Paralympic Games.
She is the first Welsh paralympic hopeful to claim a medal in Pyeongchang.
Menna followed her guide Jen Kehoe to glory on the second day of the games in the women’s super G for visually-impaired skiers.
Born with cogenital retinal folds, Menna has no vision in her left eye and limited sight in her right eye.
The Macclesfield-based athlete has been skiing since her childhood.
Clocking a time of 1:34.54, Menna finished behind Paralympics GB teammates Millie Knight and Brett Wild.
Menna and Jen have worked together since 2015, communicate through bluetooth headsets.
As they ski, Menna can only just about make out the outline of Jennifer ahead of her.
The pair run social media accounts with photos and videos showing just how little Menna can see on a run.
In the last year, Menna has also won a World Championship bronze, a Europa Cup gold and four World Cup medals, as well as bronze in the giant slalom at the 2017 World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, after recovering from a broken hand and being unable to train on the snow for eight weeks.
She first tried skiing aged just five years old while on holiday in Let Gets, France, with her parents and two sisters.
Growing up going on skiing holidays, her family soon encouraged her to take up the sport. Her dad would lead her downhill when she was younger.
In October 2010, she was noticed by a coach at Chill Factore in Manchester and began training regularly with the British Para Snowsport team.
Now less than a decade later Menna has won a bronze medal – despite falling on the first bend during Saturday’s downhill event.
Menna, who was in floods of tears, said afterwards: “It has been an emotional last 24 hours. I don’t think I have ever cried so much while skiing.
“Yesterday was a bit of a downer but we still went out there ready to race, I’m still proud of what we did then and of course what happened today.
“I was a little bit nervous at the top in the start gate, my heart was beating really fast and the stomach was churning, but we certainly came back and as soon as you get out of that start gate, it’s your moment to shine. That’s your moment to put in the maximum effort and show what you can do, thankfully we’ve been able to do that.”
The teenager added: “As soon as you hit the first gate the nerves usually go, it comes in and out depending on the slope but that race was really good fun, that’s what we try and focus in on.
“In my head this was one of my big dreams – finally that dream has come true.
“I’m just so proud of working with Jen and now we’re super excited for the rest of the week.
“We know from the past races this season that we can absolutely fly, I’m really excited about that because we’ve got another super-G race – we know we can do it so it’s about trying to show that.”
Guide Jennifer, who was given time off from her role with the Royal Engineers to train and compete, and Menna made history when they won the overall World Cup visually impaired title in Aspen, Colorado in the United States in 2016 – becoming the first British snow sports athlete to win a World Cup title.
She said: “After the downhill we just had a cup of tea and a chat with our sport psychologist who just helped us to think about all of the positives that we have had from this season and the success that we have had.
“It was about knowing we can do it and just getting on the hill and doing it and not trying to do anything clever or special.” The pair will compete in the super-combined on Tuesday, as well as the slalom and giant slalom at the end of the week.
Sainsbury’s is a proud long-term supporter of the British Paralympic Association and a champion of inclusive sport for all.