4 March 2018
Para alpine skier Chris Lloyd's big moment approaches
Picture the speed at which you’d drive down a motorway and you’ll get just the smallest indication of how fast Chris Lloyd travels down a ski slope.
It takes a special kind of athlete to take on that challenge but the Welsh skier is set to do just that on the biggest stage of all, set for his maiden Winter Paralympic Games.
Just heading to PyeongChang is a dream-come-true moment for the 44-year-old, 30 years after he first took up the sport as a child.
“It’s going to be amazing, this is a big moment, a proud moment, for me and family"
Adrenaline rush
But after being told he wouldn’t ski again after a rally car accident in 2011, Lloyd defied the odds – with a place among the world’s best his reward.
“I needed a lot of rehabilitation and skiing was one of the things I did, at that point I was just trying to achieve little goals and take things one step at a time,” he said.
“I’ve tried to make marginal gains ever since then to try and get where I am today.
“Going through the injury was tough and when you’re racing in the downhill and the Super-G, there is an element of danger because you’re going down at the same speed as if you’re on a motorway.
Sochi Inspiration
Chris was part of the BPA's Paralympic Inspiration Programme at Sochi 2014
“There is that adrenaline and just being on the mountain is a great place to be.
“My ultimate goal was just to get to the Paralympic Games, that’s happened now and that’s the big thing for me, anything else from there is just a bonus.
“It’s always a proud moment to be representing your country, I’m chilled and relaxed so I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it and see what I can do while I’m out there.”
Part of the British Paralympic Association’s Sochi 2014 Paralympic Inspiration Programme, Lloyd saw first-hand what it takes to be a Paralympian, falling in love with the idea from the outset as his four-year journey began.
Since then he has taken in every moment possible, competing at World Championship, Europa Cup and World Cup level, claiming a top-ten finish in the latter just last year.
My ultimate goal was just to get to the Paralympic Games, that’s happened now and that’s the big thing for me, anything else from there is just a bonus.
A proud moment
Lloyd got a sneak peek at the PyeongChang course exactly 12 months ago, looking to build on his World Championships experience.
“It’s going to be amazing, this is a big moment, a proud moment, for me and family and I just can’t wait to get out there and get started really,” he added.
“I went to Korea last March as part of a test event but at that point I was still coming back from injury so for me it was of a recce, but it was quite important for me to do that and see what it’s all about.
“The conditions look like they suit me, everything looks positive so it’s about going out there and achieving my dream of being at the Winter Paralympics. Anything else is a bonus.
“My aim is just to go out there and do my best, I’m not really looking to do too much more than that.”
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