Mollie Jepsen

At age 18, Mollie Jepsen is a breakout star in the international alpine skiing scene.

The Canadian standing skier medalled in four of her five events at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, including gold in the super combined, plus silver in slalom and two bronze in giant slalom and downhill.

As a result, the Canadian Paralympic Committee named her ‘Best Female Athlete’ of 2018.

“I was thrilled to represent Canada at the Games and compete alongside so many amazing athletes. I will never forget listening to the Canadian anthem on the podium with a gold medal around my neck,” she said.

Jepsen always loved skiing and being in the mountains, with her family having a place in Whistler, Canada. "It just kind of became our life, being at Whistler."

She also practised gymnastics and was into equestrian events, before being influenced by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Jepsen’s career as a skier has had multiple setbacks, though, before achieving glory. In 2011, she broke her left hand.

She also tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee on two occasions. The first one was at age 13 and the second at 15 at an event in Austria in October 2015. In 2017, Jepsen suffered a broken ankle and could only resume training six months after. She was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in late 2018.

Jepsen was born missing fingers on her left hand but has part of her thumb and small finger.