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Making sporting dreams come true
Heather, a keen skier and sportswoman before she lost her leg, started a skiing career in 2011, and became part of the Great Britain Disability Ski Team. This led to Heather taking up a variety of winter sports disciplines, including ski-jumping, skeleton, bobsleigh, and ski-bag jumping all of which she holds world-records in. Heather would go on to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for breaking the world-speed ski downhill record, boasting 166.84kph, as well as winning x4 gold medals at the skiing world championships in Aspen, USA.
Eager to assist other amputees, as well as support her own sporting ambitions, Heather went on to develop a ski leg, specially designed to flex and cope with the elements of skiing, ski jumping, and ice skating with her long-term friend Abdo Haidar, a State Registered Prosthetist specialising in upper and lower limb prosthetics with over 20 years of NHS and private experience. Abdo was the lead Consultant Prosthetist, and clinical director at The London Prosthetic Centre, offering custom made silicone solutions for amputees.
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Heather joins the BDST development squad
In 2011 Heather joined BDST (The British Disabled Ski Team), development squad then after one assessment, was enrolled onto the fully fledged team.
We are the British Disabled Ski Team
Sky News Coverage
British Disabled Ski Team for the 2014 Winter Paralympics
Heather Mills trained for the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Russia as a member of the British Disabled Ski Team. However, she was forced to withdraw from the team after a dispute over her prosthetic leg.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ruled that Mills could not compete in the 2014 Paralympics because she was using a modified boot and leg that was not approved by the IPC’s technical committee.
After Heather had left the BDST, IPCAS approved the boot and leg, immediately, ruining her chances at the time. However Heather is glad that her design is helping the future skiing generation, ski safely.
Heather trains in 5 Alpine disciplines, winning an array of medals
2012 United States Aspen Adaptive Alpine Skiing National Championships World Cup 4 Gold medals
2012 Austria Cup Gold Medal
2012 Austria Cup, Lackenhof Bronze Medal
2013 Austria Cup 3 Silver Medals
2013 Austria Cup, Lackenhof Bronze Medal
2013 New Zealand World Cup Silver Medal
Guinness World Record Holder
Fastest disabled woman in the world
Heather and Haidar designed a ski leg that allowed Heather to become the fastest disabled woman in the world, reaching speeds of 166.84 kph.
The leg was made with carbon fibre to withstand harsh snow conditions, and the socket was designed to help create lateral movement, which improved control and precision.
In 2015, Heather set a speed skiing world record at 164.84 kph, becoming the fastest disabled woman on the planet. In 2023, the Guinness World Records officially recognised her achievement.
CNN Speed Skiing
Redbull TV featuring Heather as the fastest disabled woman in the world
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Channel 4's 'The Jump'
Series 2 and Series 3
Heather took part in Channel 4’s The Jump on UK television, where celebrities take on some of the most challenging and dangerous winter sports.
In a bid to be crowned Jump Champion 2015, celebrities had to try to master various winter sports, including skeleton, bobsleigh, snowcross, ski-cross, and giant slalom.
The Jump Trailer 2015
Skeleton Run
Ski Jump
The Jump 2016
Dancing On Ice Series 5
Heather Mills was one of the celebrity performers competing on the US television series Dancing with the Stars in 2007, with dancing partner Jonathan Roberts, providing inspiration to other amputees.
On 21 December 2009, she was revealed as one of the contestants on the 5th series of Dancing on Ice. Heather impressed the judges despite her disability of having only one leg, when she designed the first ever amputee skating leg.
Dancing with the Stars Season 4
First contestant on the show to compete with an artificial limb
Heather competed in the celebrity USA Season 4 Dance show in 2007, and was the first contestant on the show to compete with an artificial limb.
Heather inspired people by competing on Dancing With the Stars, because she demonstrated that people with disabilities can overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Heather impressed judges with her performances, including a mambo and jive that some said showed her “great passion and fire” and completed a back and front flip.
Heather said that competing on the show was about “focusing on the ability rather than the disability”.
After this many amputees applied worldwide to go on the dance shows and compete.
Her participation in the show raised money for an animal-welfare charity VIVA.
The Mambo
The Jive
Paralympics
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Timeline
Sport
Heather, a keen skier before she lost her leg, started a skiing career in 2011 and became part of the GB disability Skiing Team.
Heather went on to develope a ski leg, specially designed to flex and cope with the elements of skiing. Heather Mills and Abdo Haidar of The London Prosthetic Centre have worked together to develope prosthetic limbs for Heather’s sporting ambitions.
Guinness World Record Holder
Heather and Abdo Haidar designed a ski leg that allowed Heather to become the fastest disabled woman in the world, reaching speeds of 166.84 kph. The leg was made with carbon fibre to withstand harsh snow conditions, and the socket was designed to reduce movement, which improved control and precision.
Speed skiing to a World record at 164.84 Kph. Becoming the Fastest Disabled Woman on the Planet and in 2023 officially becoming a Guinness World Record holder.
2015/23
The Jump
Alpine Sports Adaptive Legs
Ski Jump / Snowdog / Ski Cross / Airbag jump
2015/16
Heather Mills, Qualified Basi Ski Instructor and Alpine Coach.
Special Olympics Committee member
Speed Skiing World Record
2015
Heather skis for the British Disabled Ski team
2011-15
Began Coaching with Peter Prodinger
Heather went on holiday in 2010 to Austria and was spotted skiing straight down the Mölltaler Gletscher mountain. She received a note that night under her door saying it was dangerous to ski at that speed. She met up with the owner of the note who was the head coach for the Austrian Ski Team, Peter Prodinger, and explained that because she had a prosthetic leg, she could not turn. Peter took her under his wing and started to train Heather.
Heather Competes in Dancing on Ice
On 21 December 2009, she was revealed as one of the contestants on the fifth series of Dancing on Ice. Heather impressed the judges despite competing with a prosthetic leg.
2010
Heather and Haidar designed a prosthetic leg that helped a bone cancer survivor learn to ski.
Matthew Short, an amputee skier, turned to Heather Mills after his amputation, who recommended a visit to The London Prosthetic centre and, after the initial consultation, the design of Matt’s new leg was developed. The key benefit for Matt was that it provided an ideal solution, helping him achieve his goals on the slopes and embark on his Paralympic dream.
Dancing with the Stars
Heather competed in the celebrity USA season 4 dance show and was the first contestant on the show to compete with an artificial limb. Heather inspired people by competing on Dancing With the Stars, because she demonstrated that people with disabilities can overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
She impressed judges with her performances, including a mambo and jive that some said showed her “great passion and fire”, and completed a back and front flip. Heather said that competing on the show was about “focusing on the ability rather than the disability”. Her participation in the show raised money for an animal-welfare charity. Heather’s story inspired others, including dancer Stephanie Bastos, who also has a prosthetic leg.
2007
Tarviso Ski Crash
Haemotoma drain in between ski races
Prosthetic Leg Snaps Off
Crash when prosthetic leg breaks
