As insideworldparasport reported earlier this week, the 42-year-old ex-model is insisting that her attempt to qualify to represent Britain in downhill skiing in Russia is not a publicity stunt.

Mills, who lost her left leg after being knocked down by a police motorcycle in 1993, has attempted to prove her seriousness by beginning to train under coach Alexander Köll in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Her determination appears to have impressed Paddy Power who are offering relatively short odds of 6/1 that Mills will qualify for Sochi, even though most people within the Paralympic Movement are sceptical of her chances.

But the bookies are not so confident that she will win the gold medal she is claiming she can even achieve, even though no British Paralympic skier has ever previously won a medal at the Games.

They are offering 66/1 on Mills claiming a medal of any colour.

Paddy Power's Sharon McHugh said: "We’re sure Heather is a fantastic skier and you have to admire her determination but Great Britain’s Paralympic ski team are not far off Olympic standard.

"They’re professional dedicated athletes who have been training for years and years.

"The standard in Britain and abroad is very high indeed."

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