SCI Superstar: Anna Turney

Not just another Paralympic athlete, Anna Turney is a lifelong athlete who’s more self-aware than most. Injured in 2005 in a snowboarding competition, she transformed herself into a top mono-skier representing Great Britain in two Paralympics. And in 2015, she transformed herself again, leaving her Paralympic career and focusing on the next chapter of her life – journalism and motivational speaking. Read on to see why her star shines bright. 

Why She’s Fearless

In 2006 when she was 26 years old, Anna was in Japan for a snowboarding competition; a sport she fell in love with as a teen that took her all over the world. While doing a jump here she fell, breaking her back. When she was diagnosed with paraplegia, she fell into a massive depression.

But she found a new love while in rehab – adapted sports. She was introduced to handcycling by a new friend, and then she tried out wheelchair basketball.  And when Anna found out she could also do snow sports, she was sold. She started with mono-skiing, and was a natural.

The same year she discovered sit-skiing, 2007, was the same year she was accepted into the British Disabled Ski Team. And by 2008, Anna was competing at the highest level and was selected to represent Great Britain in the 2009 IPC Alpine World Championships in South Korea, where she finished fourth in giant slalom. Anna also skied in the downhill, slalom, super-G and super combined throughout her career.

In 2010 is when Anna made her Paralympic debut – at the Vancouver Winter Paralympics. She narrowly missed the bronze medal in the giant slalom, finishing fourth. And four years later she participated in the Sochi Winter Paralympics. Sports are have what driven her her entire life and she can credit them for helping her move on past her injury. 

What’s Next?

In 2015, Anna decided to focus on the next chapter of her life and officially retired from sports, deciding to work in journalism and become a motivational speaker, which she still does till this day.

She’s done work with the BBC, known for a great piece on retired athletes and depression, and she’s a notable speaker at schools throughout England. Anna also frequently speaks on behalf of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.

And that’s what we love about Anna, her nonstop perseverance throughout life and her positivity. Since she retired from sports, Anna has also become a mother and she works as an executive performance coach, where she teaches leadership skills. 

— Follow Anna on IG