Millie Knight nominated for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year

Holmlands client and World Para Alpine Downhill Champion, Millie Knight, 18 has been shortlisted for the prestigious BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award 2017.

Millie, a visually impaired skier from Canterbury, lost 92% of her sight by age six, and skis with her guide Brett Wild. The pair won a remarkable 15 World Cup medals last season, including seven golds; seven silvers, a bronze and the World Cup Downhill Globe. The duo were crowned Para Alpine Downhill World Champions in February, at the World Championships in Italy, where they also won three silvers.

Millie, who also completed her A-Levels this year securing three A stars, says, "To be recognised by the BBC as a nominee for Young Sports Personality of the Year is a true honour and feels really special. I’m excited and delighted just to have been considered, and this nomination is an acknowledgement of all the hard work that goes in off the slopes by my whole support team. My fantastic guide Brett Wild deserves this nomination too; he’s my eyes on the slopes and pushes me every day to be the best I can possibly be. Just to be nominated gives us both confidence, which we will take into our training for the season. We have a big few months coming up, and our focus is on being selected as part of the Paralympics GB squad for the Winter Paralympics in South Korea. I’d like to wish good luck to all the nominees for this award, I’m proud to be nominated alongside them.”

This recognition follows Millie’s nomination for The Sunday Times Young Sportswoman of the Year in October, where she was selected in the top four nominees.

BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year will be awarded to the outstanding young British sportsperson aged 17 or under on 1 January 2017, selected from nominations made to the BBC and by sports governing bodies via the Youth Sport Trust. The winner will become a Sporting Patron of the Youth Sport Trust, announced at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Sunday 17th December.

We are very proud of Millie in receiving such great recognition for her and Brett's remarkable achievements. Tune in to Blue Peter on CBBC, Thursday 7th December at 5:30pm, where Millie will be sharing her story.

To see the full list of nominees, click here.