Kelly Gallagher MBE

Kelly Gallagher tried Para Alpine skiing for the first time on a family trip to Andorra when she was 17 years old and made her international debut in New Zealand in August 2009.

The next year, Kelly became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to compete at the Paralympic Winter Games when she made her debut at Vancouver 2010. With her guide, Claire Robb, she placed sixth in slalom and fourth in giant slalom.

She began working with guide Charlotte Evans in late 2010 and went on to win silver and bronze at the 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Sestriere, Italy, becoming the first British athlete to secure a medal at that level. Working together, Kelly and Charlotte won medals in all disciplines in both Europa Cup and World Cup competitions.

At Sochi 2014, Kelly and Charlotte became the first Paralympic or Olympic athletes to win a gold medal on snow when they won the women’s super-G. Kelly was awarded an MBE in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to sport for people with a visual impairment.

After Charlotte took a step back from competitive skiing, Kelly teamed up with Gary Smith. Due to injury, she was unable to compete at the 2017 World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, but after a period of intensive rehabilitation the duo were back on the slopes for ²⁰¹⁷⁄₁₈ winter season.

Kelly and Gary competed together at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games with a fifth-place finish in the giant slalom their best result on the slopes of Jeongseon.

2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Games

• Super-G: 8th
• Super combined: 7th
• Giant slalom: 5th
• Slalom: 6th

2014 Sochi Paralympic Games

• Downhill: 6th
• Super-G: Gold

2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games

• Slalom: 6th
• Giant Slalom: 4th

2013 World Championships, La Molina, Spain

• Super-G: Silver
• Super combined: Silver
• Downhill: Bronze
• Giant slalom: Bronze

2011 World Championships, Sestriere, Italy

• Slalom: Silver
• Giant slalom: Bronze