After securing three gold medals in the T54 400 metres, 800m and 1500m events at London 2012, McFadden set her sights on qualifying for the Winter Paralympic Games and began competing in Nordic skiing during the 2012-2013 season.

A string of impressive performances has seen the 24-year-old qualify for her first Winter Games, where she is set to make a return to the country of her birth in March.

McFadden spent the first six years of her life in a St Petersburg orphanage before being adopted by American parents.

Alongside her quest for Sochi 2014 qualification, McFadden continued her medal charge on the track by claiming six gold medals at last year's International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Lyon.

In addition, she became the first wheelchair athlete to complete the grand slam of marathon titles after her wins in London, Chicago, Boston and New York.

McFadden's New York Marathon win in 2013 has undoubtedly cemented her place as the pre-eminent Paralympic athlete in the world ©AFP/Getty Images



























After sending only six Nordic skiing athletes to Vancouver 2010, US Paralympics have named 16 skiers and two guides this time around for the biathlon and cross-country skiing events in Sochi.

McFadden will be joined by two other athletes who competed at London 2012.

Cyclist Monica Bascio bagged two silver medals in road racing events in London, and will be appearing at her third Winter Paralympics, while Oksana Masters and partner Rob Jones secured a bronze medal in rowing.

Bascio is joined by two other athletes who competed at Vancouver 2010, including biathlon bronze medallist Andy Soule and Sean Halsted.

Soule and Halsted are among a number of athletes heading to Sochi that have come from a military background, which also includes Omar Bermejo, Kevin Burton, Travis Dodson, Bryan Price and Jeremy Wagner, while Dan Cnossen currently serves in the US Navy.

Jake Adicoff, John Oman, Augusto Perez and Aaron Pike complete the list of 12 men that will represent the US with Beth Requist rounding out the four-strong women's squad.

David Chamberlain and Reid Pletcher will also make the trip to Sochi as guides for the team.

"We are thrilled to bring such a large team of athletes and professional staff to Sochi," said John Farra, high performance director for US Paralympics Nordic skiing.

"We have made a concerted effort to introduce more athletes to the sports of cross-country skiing and biathlon over the past two-and-a-half seasons, and this growth is a sign of our success in keeping many of them excited about our Nordic sports and working toward becoming internationally competitive.

"In addition to building the numbers with new developing athletes, we have also focussed many resources to help our top athletes get close to hitting the podium.

"Great focus was given towards equipment design for sit skiers, race ski selection and preparation in partnership with the US Biathlon Association, and access to the best training camps and competitions around the world."

Andy Soule celebrates with his bronze medal at Vancouver 2010 ©Getty Images
























All nominations are subject to approval from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

Athletes will compete in three biathlon and three cross-country races in Sochi as well as two cross-country relays.

US Paralympics says the squads for alpine skiing, ice sledge hockey, snowboarding and wheelchair curling will be finalised by the February 21 deadline.

The Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games are due to take place from March 7 to 16.

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