Born in Cheltenham, Britain’s Maise Hill is currently competing in her debut Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina.
The 24-year-old is currently competing in the Big Air competition at games, alongside feelow Brit, Mia Brookes.
Despite being born in Cheltenham, Hill now resides in the beautiful location of the French Alps in order to train for these competitions all year round.
However, the Snowboarder is making a tremendous comeback on her debut following a serious injury a few years ago.
During a training session in Switzerland in January 2023, Hill crashed into a block of ice leaving her with a lacerated liver, a broken spine, ribs and pelvis, a fractured lung and a bleed on the brain.
These serious injuries resulted in her losing 20 percent of her blood, and consequently nearly died.
Hill qualified at Livigno Snow Park, finishing 29th on her debut in the women’s snowboard big air qualifying event.
It may not have been enough to reach the final, but the dream of making it to the Olympics was the only though on her mind.
Hill competed in the Winter Youth Olympic Festival nin 2017 alongside former teammate, Ellie Soutter. Soutter was regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Britain as she claimed bronze in the snowboard cross.
Soutter had a big impact on Hill and her family, setting up the Ellie Soutter Foundation in her honour after she took her own life in 2018.
The family pledged to raise funds to support promising winter sports athletes in the UK, with Hill keen to keep her friends legacy alive during these Olympic games.
Hill has had a brilliant run in her debut at the Olympics, and although hasn’t qualified for the final this evening, the Cheltenham Snowboarder has certainly made her mark on the sport and her name will be remembered.
