Bourne Paralympian Announces Retirement

6 November 2014, 07:17 | Updated: 6 November 2014, 07:19

Jade Etherington, Britain's most successful Winter Paralympian, has announced her decision to retire from competitive ski racing.

The 23-year-old, who has five per cent vision in both eyes, became the first British woman to claim a Paralympic skiing medal when she won a silver at the 2014 Games in Sochi.

Etherington has competed alongside sighted guide Caroline Powell since August 2013.

``After many discussions with Caroline, we have both decided to retire from competitive ski racing as part of the British Disabled Ski Team (BDST),'' said Etherington, who is training to be a geography teacher.

``We will be sad to leave the Paralympic Alpine Skiing programme and we will both miss our sport and athletes on the team and circuit.

``Caroline and I now wish to follow different paths which we feel will be more fulfilling for us in the long term - Caroline with her instructing in Switzerland, while I would like to complete my qualification as a teacher and increase my motivational speaking.

``It was an honour to represent ParalympicsGB and to make history at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics.

``Caroline and I are Britain's most successful Winter Paralympians, with four medals from our first games, and we really hope to inspire more people to enjoy skiing as a result.''