November 5, 2014 4.47 pm This story is over 111 months old

Lincolnshire Paralympian Jade Etherington quits ski racing

Focusing on teaching: Paralympian Jade Etherington announced she is retiring from competitive ski racing along with her guide Caroline Powell.

Lincolnshire Paralympian Jade Etherington announced on Wednesday she is retiring from competitive ski racing along with her guide Caroline Powell.

Jade is the most successful GB Winter Paralympian in history after she won one bronze and three silver medals at the Sochi Winter Paralympics 2014, alongside her guide Caroline Powell.

Jade said: “After many discussions with Caroline we have both decided to retire from competitive ski racing as part of the British Disabled Ski Team (BDST).

“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.

“Caroline expresses her love for being a guide, saying it was a great experience and adding that to work alongside a talented athlete has positively challenged her abilities within the adaptive, Alpine and racing world of skiing.

“It is hard for me to sum up my last six years on the team but I have enjoyed my time, from my personal and athlete development to making some friends for life.

“I have improved my skiing ability the most within the last six months since Caroline has become my guide, something that was reflected in the success that we had together in Sochi which I will never forget.

“We hope the future team gets the support they deserve and strives toward Pyeongchang 2018,” she added.