Mick Brennan

Michael Brennan (born 29 October 1979) is a British alpine skier. Brennan lost both his lower legs in a bomb attack whilst serving in the British army in Iraq in 2004. His rehabilitation saw him first attempt to compete in the Summer Paralympics in Beijing before switching to alpine ski sports. In 2014 he qualified for the Great Britain team for the Winter Paralympics in Sochi as a sit-skier.

Personal history Brennan was born in 1979 and comes from the English town of Doncaster. He became a career soldier and joined the British Army. In January 2004, while on duty in Iraq, he answered a volunteer call to join the Royal Signal Bomb Squad, and became part of the Army's bomb disposal team. In late 2004, at the rank of sergeant, he was caught within the blast of a suicide bomb. The blast removed both of his legs below the knees and he landed heavily on his head placing him in a coma for two weeks. He was flown to Germany where he awoke from his coma, and spent the next three years attending Headley Court rehabilitation centre. In 2010 he made his first appearance on the slopes for the British national team.

In the 2011 World Championships he finished 19th in the sitting Slalom and 23rd in the sitting Giant Slalom. However, after returning to competitive skiing in the Southern Hemisphere he broke his wrist, which limited his ability to practice and compete prior to the 2014 Winter Paralympics. The Sochi Games was his Paralympic debut.

On arrival at Sochi, Brennan announced that he would not be competing at the downhill event, describing the slope as 'scary'. Expressing concerns shared by other competitors regarding the speed of the slope, Brennan was worried that it would be too dangerous to take part so soon after his recent injuries.