Welsh Para-alpine skier Menna Fitzpatrick is competing in her third Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina after recovering from a knee injury that threatened her participation. The 26-year-old skier, who won silver medals in Pyeongchang 2018 and bronze in Beijing 2022, sustained the injury during training in December but chose to forgo surgery to compete.

Fitzpatrick and her guide Katie Guest will not attend the opening ceremony at Verona Arena as they compete the following day, though they will appear in a video sequence during the parade. She described reaching this Paralympics as "really special" given the challenges of the past year, calling her journey a "rollercoaster." The injury forced her to change her training approach, focusing on gym work to regain peak fitness.

The determination to compete despite injury showcases Fitzpatrick's resilience and commitment to her sport. Her decision to avoid surgery and push through rehabilitation demonstrates the sacrifices elite athletes make to compete on the world stage. After successful recent training sessions with her guide, Fitzpatrick says she's now focused on enjoying the experience without pressure.