Winter Paralympics 2022: 'I want to show that I can still adapt and perform'

Para-skier Menna Fitzpatrick became Britain's most successful Winter Paralympian, along with guide Jen Kehoe, when they won gold, two silvers and a bronze in Pyeongchang at the 2018 Games. Along with guide Gary Smith, a late replacement for Katie Guest, she will bid for more success at the 2022 Games in Beijing, which start on 4 March. This is her third BBC Sport column.

It's great to be in Beijing for my second Paralympics and I'm ready for what lies ahead when the action starts on Saturday.

But the build-up hasn't been smooth, with my regular guide Katie Guest testing positive for Covid and having to pull out of the Games.

I'm gutted for Katie because I know how much she was looking forward to her first Paralympics. I just wanted to share it with her because I know how epic my experience was in Pyeongchang four years ago when I made my debut.

I really feel for her back home, sitting around watching something that she could have been a part of, but I've got to focus on what I'm doing and get ready to perform as best I can. Sometimes you've just got to be a little bit selfish.

I'll now be guided by Gary Smith, whom I have trained a lot with — and raced with during the 2019-20 season.

With visually impaired skiing, guides can get injured or ill, so you have to prepare for anything and Gary was ready to take up the role when we knew Katie wasn't going to be able to compete.

He guided Kelly Gallagher in Pyeongchang and has a lot of experience. When we worked together previously, we got to know each other and we each saw how the other reacts in pressurised situations, which helps us now.

Each guide does things a bit differently. I like to be quite calm and chilled in the start gate, especially before the downhill and the speed