• Sochi Paralympics 2014

Heather Mills misses out on Sochi Paralympics

ESPN staff
December 17, 2013
Heather Mills has struggled to adjust to a new prosthetic that causes her serious discomfort © Getty Images
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Heather Mills has been forced to abandon her bid to reach the 2014 Sochi Paralympics due to a long-term injury relating to her prosthetic limb.

The former model and ex-wife of Sir Paul McCartney joined the British development ski team in 2010 and won a World Cup silver earlier this year, but has had problems with friction from the prosthetic.

Mills was said to be "devastated" in a statement from her management company.

The 45-year-old has been blighted with injuries throughout her qualification campaign, particularly while learning to slalom, which regularly resulted in her being 'ejected' from her prosthetic leg.

A new design helped stabilise the problem, but the friction caused by the device - which locks to her left leg below the knee - regularly resulted in painful inflammation that had to be frequently drained.

Over the last few weeks this has led to bleeding, blistering and a painful blood cyst, which has ended her campaign to reach Sochi.

Mills had her left leg amputated below the knee after a collision with a police motorbike in 1993.

The GB skiing team for Sochi is due to be confirmed in January and is expected to include between five and seven athletes.

Mills claimed a World Cup silver earlier this year but her hopes of competing at Sochi are over © Getty Images
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