Three years ago today, Maisie Hill from Cheltenham was discharged from the hospital, marking the end of a challenging recovery from a crash that nearly left her unable to walk. Now, at 24, she has proudly stepped onto the Olympic stage as a snowboarder at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
In 2022, Hill suffered a severe crash at the Laax Open, sustaining a broken pelvis, spine, ribs, a lacerated liver, and a brain bleed. Despite the gravity of her injuries, she defied the odds by returning to snowboarding within nine months.
Making her Olympic debut at Livigno Snow Park, Hill competed in the women’s snowboard big air qualifying event, finishing 29th. While she struggled to land her first two runs, she confidently executed a clean backside 900 on her third attempt, scoring an overall 57.25. Though her performance fell short of expectations, the achievement of participating in the Olympics was a triumph in itself.
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Reflecting on her journey, Hill shared, “I’m pretty proud of myself, and it means a lot to be here. I never doubted myself, even when I was leaving the hospital three years ago facing the possibility I might never walk again. People said I was too old to start, but I always believed I could.”
Standing atop the big air ramp was nerve-wracking, and while nerves affected her runs, Hill’s passion for snowboarding shines through. With the slopestyle event ahead—her stronger discipline—she remains motivated and upbeat.
“I’ve had so much fun riding here. I love snowboarding and have had the best training ever,” she said. “I landed my front 10 in practice but couldn’t pull it off when it counted. Still, I got a sketchy back 9 on my last run. On to slopestyle, which is my better event—I just love it all. I’ll work on managing my nerves better.”
Her comeback is all the more remarkable considering a training crash into a wall of ice in January 2023. Walking again was once uncertain, but her determination saw her through those dark moments.
Hill credits her recovery to a rigorous nine-month rehab involving weekly physiotherapy at Bath University and comprehensive support from the British Olympic Association alongside GB Snowsport’s sports science and medicine teams.
Family inspiration played a pivotal role. “My grandma, at 91, refuses to use a wheelchair and stays active. Thinking about her gave me strength when I needed it most,” Hill said. She also feels connected to her late grandfather, a six-time world champion powerboat racer whose drive and spirit she believes she inherited.
Maisie Hill’s journey from near-tragedy to Olympic athlete is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the power of self-belief—an inspiring story of turning setbacks into milestones.