Runcorn-born Stephanie Gott and skating partner Oliver Snook won Olympic silver for Team GB in the figure skating pairs competition at the Special Olympics.
The Special Olympic World Winter Games took place in Turin with more than 1,500 athletes competing.
The tournament is a global sports movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.
Stephanie competes individually and as part of a pair in the figure skating categories.
She has achieved numerous medals since she took up figure skating at age 14.
After overcoming multiple adversities in her life, from complications at birth to cruel comments from her peers in school, she proved doubters wrong.
Pamela Richardson-Delaney, Stephanie’s coach, said: “I really admire Steph, she was born with a heart problem which she had an operation for.
“She works really really hard, about six hours a week.”
She was born with a congenital heart defect and received critical surgery as a newborn at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
For Stephanie this trip signified more than just the games as she reunited with Dr Pozzi, who saved her life when she was born.
After receiving her silver medal, alongside skating partner Oliver Snook in the Figure Skating pairs competition, Stephanie was surprised by Dr Pozzi.
She said: “I have been telling people about Dr Pozzi for many years, so to be able to meet him, just as I came off the ice at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, is a dream come true.
“I couldn’t stop thanking him as I would not be here today without his work.
“I will keep so many special memories of this day, and week in Turin, with me for the rest of my life.”
(Featured image source- Special Olympics)
