By David Gold

Matthias Lanzinger_21-10-11October 21 - Former world-class Alpine skier Matthias Lanzinger has set his sights on a medal at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games despite losing his lower left leg in an accident three years ago.


Lanzinger won gold at the Europa Cup championship in 2007, but his hopes of Olympic glory were shattered a year later.

The former junior world champion crashed during a World Cup Super-G clash in Kvitfjell, Norway in March 2008 and his lower left leg was amputated.

Since the accident, the Austrian has been a television commentator and newspaper columnist, but he revealed that he now turned his attention towards the Paralympic claiming a medal at the Paralympics.

"I dreamed of winning an Olympic medal as a young boy," he said.

"This vision was interrupted on 2 March 2008."

He will take part in European competition from November to build up his fitness as he prepares on the long road to Sochi.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]