The 28-year-old visually-impaired German skier, who claimed a stunning haul of five gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games, said she was delighted to see not only a greater quantity of women now practising sport but also a greater quality.

"I am convinced sport for women has become more and more ambitious and that the level of competition has risen," said Bentele, who ruled the slopes in Vancouver despite suffering a serious skiing accident the previous year where she broke her hand and badly injured her knee.

"This has been the same for men's sport, but I think the development of women's sport has been much faster.

"I also think women's sport is being taken more seriously now.

"In Paralympic Sport there has been a huge development in the past 10 to 15 years.

"The starting fields have grown and the competition has become tougher.

"My personal opinion is that previously women in sport were often reduced to their looks and the focus was not on their sporting talent.

"There has definitely been a change and a very positive one at that."

But Bentele believes many challenges still lie ahead, particularly in coaching.

"There is definitely a challenge that you have to stand your ground with male functionaries and coaches," she said.

"Although more women are becoming coaches it is still dominated by men.

"This means that women have a different standing and I have experienced it myself.

"It is a challenge to stand your grounds and ask for your rights."

Having competed at the very elite level of Paralympic sport and won nearly every medal and award available, Bentele is an undoubted role model for all women aspiring to get into sport although her advice is very simple.

"Look for a sport where you have some talent, that you have fun practising and look for people that can support you, be it your coach, your friends or your family," she stated.

"With that support try to reach the goals you set yourself.

"That has always helped me - for example, when I had problems with male coaches, I looked for the support somewhere else."

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