Chemmy Alcott: Bionic Woman back on the ice

Scott 17:39 30/10/2014
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  • Bionic woman: Chemmy Alcott has broken her leg three times and her neck once.

    For an athlete who’s made a career out of skiing, Chemmy Alcott has certainly experienced her share of ups and downs.

    The 32-year-old was Britain’s number one female alpine skier and was ranked as high as eighth in the world. She represented Great Britain at four Winter Olympics and retired after appearing at Sochi in February this year.

    She’s a truly inspiring individual, having made a career out of skiing despite breaking her neck and threetimes breaking her leg, earning her the nickname ‘Bionic Woman’.

    Through E-Sports, Alcott was in the UAE this month at Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates and Sport360° caught up with her to have a chat.

    What are you doing out here in the UAE?

    I’m here as an ambassador for Inspiring Learning. They provide ski trips for students from Dubai to Europe. I’m here to put on a ski clinic at Ski Dubai, as well as visit GEMS Wellington Academy and GEMS Jumeirah Primary School to speak to the students. 

    I want to motivate students who have a talent in sport, not necessarily skiing, to do everything within their power to make their dreams become a reality.

    Emiratis are not used to seeing too much snow, so how do you explain skiing to them and how can they relate?
    I only use skiing as an example, you can use any sport. Skiing was my dream and I told them it’s just about having a dream and following it. 

    What has the reaction been like?
     It’s been amazing. I got a standing ovation at the primary school. The Emirati kids were so engaged. They actually asked quite a lot of questions.

    What can youngsters learn from you and your career?
    My story’s important because I chased a dream [winning Olympic gold] for 20 years and, ultimately, it didn’t come true. Life throws curve balls at you and the reason I’ve succeeded is because I failed over and over again, which taught me so much. I broke my neck when I was 11 and broke my leg three times and now walk with a 15 inch rod in my right leg. 

    Despite that, I became the first British woman to qualify for the World Cup finals and the first British skier to win a run in a World Cup race so the sacrifices were worth it. Chances of failure drive you on and make you work harder. It’s important to take risks and have a growth mindset. Sometimes they pay off, sometimes they don’t, but it’s about learning from it. In skiing, you fall down a lot, so there’s no better sport from which you can learn to pick yourself up.

    What was the proudest moment of your career?
    Finishing 19th at the Sochi Winter Olympics. I’d spent 1,028 minutes under general anaesthetic and only completed four minutes of competitive skiing beforehand, and I finished two seconds off the leader. Just to get back on the slopes was amazing and being at Sochi was like winning a gold medal for me.

    What advice would you give to youngsters?
    Have the confidence to follow your dreams and ride the rollercoaster. Persevere through tough times and enjoy the good moments.

    Who were your sporting idols growing up?
    My parents. They both played sport. Dad was a rugby player and mum was a swimmer. The support they gave me and their understanding was amazing and they were the ones who made me successful.

    What is the most dangerous thing that’s happened to you on the slopes?
    Definitely being in the helicopter which took me to hospital after breaking my leg – one of the three times I did so. I accidently ripped the tarpaulin they’d wrapped me in and the ice from the chopper blades somehow ended up in my throat. I thought I was going to suffocate but, somehow, I remained calm, waited for the ice to melt and I was fine.

    And funniest?
    At my first Winter Olympics, in Salt Lake City in 2002, I was randomly drug tested. I had two bodyguards following me round and there were 10,000 people in the crowd who must have thought I was some big celebrity. I felt so cool – even though I was holding off going to the toilet for about two hours.

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