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Jade Etherington

Jade Etherington

Areas of Interest

Sports, Science and Technology

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Science, 2014

Biography

Jade Etherington is an Alpine skier and the most successful British Winter Paralympian of all time. Jade was born with Axenfeld Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes progressive visual impairment. Despite multiple surgical procedures as a child, Jade now has just 5% vision in each eye.

In 2009 Jade joined the British Disabled Ski Team's Development Squad and skiing became something more than just a fun activity. In 2011 she began racing on the international circuit and in 2013 she enjoyed her breakthrough senior success taking bronze in the super-G event at the Alpine Skiing World Championships at La Molina in Spain.

In March 2014 Jade took the silver medal in the downhill event, becoming the first British woman ever to win a Winter Paralympics medal on snow. Over the next six days she added silver in the slalom, silver in the combined event and bronze in the super-G, becoming the most decorated British Winter Paralympian in history. In recognition of her achievements, she was given the honour of acting as flag bearer for the Great Britain team at the closing ceremony.



Citation

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Jade Etherington for the award of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.

Jade Etherington is an Alpine skier and the most successful British Winter Paralympian of all time.

She was born with Axenfeld Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes progressive visual impairment. Despite multiple surgical procedures as a child, Jade now has just 5% vision in each eye. Jade spent her early childhood in Chelmsford, before moving with her family to Lincolnshire when she was seven years old.

Jade began skiing at the age of eight, when the entire Etherington family would take to the slopes. Yet these excursions were no ordinary family skiing trips, because Jade's mother is blind and as well as Jade one of her three sisters also suffers from Axenfeld Syndrome, Jade and her mother were reliant on accurate and timely instruction from father, Andrew on the slopes. Over the next few years, Jade continued to enjoy skiing as a recreational pursuit, with her father acting as her first sighted guide. But as her abilities came to surpass her father's, she was ultimately forced to seek a guide with a talent to match her own.

In 2009 Jade joined the British Disabled Ski Team's Development Squad, and skiing became something more than just a fun activity. In 2011 she began racing on the international circuit and in 2013 she enjoyed her breakthrough senior success taking bronze in the super-G event at the Alpine Skiing World Championships at La Molina in Spain.

It was at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi that Caroline Jade's sighted guide and Jade would really make their mark. On 8th March 2014 Jade took the silver medal in the downhill event, becoming the first British woman ever to win a Winter Paralympics medal on snow. Over the next 6 days she added silver in the slalom, silver in the combined event, and bronze in the super-G, becoming the most decorated British Winter Paralympian in history. In recognition of her achievements, she was given the honour of acting as flag bearer for the Great Britain team at the closing ceremony.

Away from her career as an international skier, Jade is a keen student. After attending The Deepings School near Peterborough, she went to Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, graduating in 2012 with a degree in Education and Geography. She is currently training to become a teacher.

Jade's courage and her determination to live a life unlimited by her disability make her an excellent role model for our students.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Jade Etherington for the award of Doctor of Science, honoris causa."