Turney will not be easing off as she bids to fulfil Sochi dream

Warwick skier Anna Turney may have already achieved the qualifying criteria for the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics, but she insists there will be no let up now as she bids to ensure she is a certainty for selection.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jan 2014, 12:04 BST
Anna Turney is determined not to rest on her laurels with the Sochi Paralympics just around the corner.Anna Turney is determined not to rest on her laurels with the Sochi Paralympics just around the corner.
Anna Turney is determined not to rest on her laurels with the Sochi Paralympics just around the corner.

The 34-year-old has been in excellent form this season, spending as much time on the podium as she has on the slopes with top-three finishes in Canada, USA and Austria as she bids to reach her second Winter Games.

Following a snowboarding accident in 2006 where she broke her back, Turney turned to seated skiing barely a year afterwards and joined the British Disabled Skiing Team (BDST).

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She was selected to compete at Vancouver 2010 but came up short in her pursuit of a medal, finishing sixth in the slalom event while failing to post a time in the giant slalom.

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And, with Sochi just around the corner, the former University of Bristol student is confident she can improve on her previous showing.

“It’s been great racing in Austria, I have got some results and the whole team has done well,” said Turney. “I qualified for the World Cup in slalom and I’m hopeful this will make getting a place for Sochi a bit more defined.

“I raced in Canada and the USA which was great because I got some more good results there. I got three bronze medals in slalom andsuper-Gin Canada and silver and three bronzes in USA.

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“To reach the qualification target isn’t that difficult but the selection process is because they only want to take people who could win medals.

“Just because I’ve qualified doesn’t take the pressure off. I still need to do well in order to get selected but I am treating it like training and am enjoying myself so that I don’t get stressed about it, which means I perform better.”

Turney is currently ranked inside the world’s top eight in slalom, giant slalom, super-combined, super-G and downhill disciplines.

And, after a break for the festive period, Turney is confident her sacrifices will all be worth it should she earn a plane ticket to Russia.

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“It would be amazing to represent my country again. I have been working hard to try and achieve that,” she added.

“It means a lot to me and that is what I am aiming for. I have spent a huge amount of time and money and I’m away from home and my husband a lot so you give up a normal life for it.”

Sainsbury’s is a proud long-term supporter of the British Paralympic Association and a champion of inclusive sport for all. For more information on Sainsbury’s commitment to inclusive sport visit: www.Sainsburys.co.uk/activekids

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