Gallagher, a visually impaired athlete that will compete with her guide Claire Robb, joins a strong team that includes World Cup gold medal winner Sean Rose as well as Russell Docker, Talan Skeels-Piggins, Anna Turney, Jane Sowerby and Tim Farr.

Gallagher, who has BSc in maths from the University of Bath, made her international debut last year.

She currently works for the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and is completing an MSc at Queen’s University Belfast and expressed her delight at being included in the team a late entry.

Gallagher said: "I am over the moon at being selected for the team.

"It is every athlete’s dream to represent their country and it’s very exciting to be the first Paralympic skier from Northern Ireland.”

Phil Lane, the chief executive of ParalympicsGB, said: "I am pleased that we are now in a position to announce Kelly as the final member of the ParalympicsGB team for the Paralympic Winter Games following the successful completion of an international classification process over the weekend.

"Kelly is a young but mature athlete and I am confident she will be an asset to the team.”

Dave Chugg, Britain's team manager, said: "It is excellent that Kelly has been selected.

"Although she is a relative newcomer to the team, she is a great prospect for the future and I am confident that Vancouver will be a valuable experience for her in her development as a skier."

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