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.

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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.”

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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.

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