Sponsored by
Soldier injured in bomb blast fights back on the ski slopes
AN INJURED soldier who lost both his legs in a bomb attack in Iraq in 2005 has been reselected to race with the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team (CSDST).
Sergeant Mick Brennan of the Royal Signals has been on the team since it was founded in 2008, and is also a member of the Great Britain Disabled Ski Team.
His selection for this season means he will shortly begin another gruelling winter of training, his sights set on World Cup qualification.
While the 31-year-old was undergoing rehabilitation following the bomb attack, he was given the opportunity to go skiing through “Battle Back”, an initiative that offers training opportunities to injured service personnel.
He said: “I first went skiing in 2008. I’d never skied before and I had a really good time.
“With the CSDST starting up the same year it all fell into place and it kind of went from there.
“Once you’re up and about and on the snow you’re like everyone else, and in some cases better. You’re independent.”
Being reselected for the team has been tough, Sgt Brennan said, although he now has his sights set on the Winter Paralympics in Russia in 2014.
He said: “Some of the guys starting up now are a lot better than I was when I started and in three or four years they’ll be right at the top of the sport. I’m having to pick my game up.
“Obviously everyone’s dream is to get to the podium.”
Sgt Brennan is set to leave the Army in December, but will still continue with the CSDST, which is open to current or former members of the Armed Forces with a permanent disability.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.