McFadden will be making her winter Paralympics debut back in the country of her birth 20 years after being rescued from a St Petersburg orphanage and adopted by Debbie McFadden and moving to Maryland.

Born with spina bifida and forced to walk on her hands for the first five years of her life, McFadden's Russian mother left her in an orphanage because she feared she could not cope with a disabled child.

However, the 24-year-old revealed she does not harbour any ill feelings towards her biological mother and is relishing the opportunity to perform in front of both of them, who have already met in Sochi, when she competes in the 12-kilometre sit-skiing event tomorrow plus the sprint and five-kilometre events later in the week. 

"It's definitely been a dream of mine for the two of them to meet," said McFadden.

"Seeing my whole family is definitely going to be a huge fulfilment and I'm going to use that energy and put it into my skiing and just live in that moment.

"To see them at my competition is going to be an experience I will never forget.

"Being in Russia where I was born and having my family and if I win a medal, then, there will be a lot of emotion involved."

McFadden is set to compete in cross-country skiing competition in Sochi and has her sights firmly set on winning gold to complete a remarkable 18 months for the woman who can arguably lay claim to being the most dominant athlete - able bodied or disabled - in the world over the past year-and-a-half.

McFadden hopes to add Paralympic Winter Games gold to her three from London 2012
©Getty Images



Already with four silver and two bronze medals under her belt from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, McFadden collected her first Paralympic golds at London 2012, winning the women's T54 400, 800 and 1500 metres titles, while also taking bronze in the 100m.

She followed that up by becoming the first female athlete to win six world titles at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Lyon, to add to her four world crowns from Christchurch in 2011.

November last year saw her create more history in New York as she became the first athlete in history to complete the marathon Grand Slam after wins in London, Boston and Chicago.

But, giving an insight into her almost obsessive drive for success, McFadden is not content.

She wants more success.

"Going into these Games I have only been skiing for just over a year," said McFadden, who is studying Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Illinois.

"I had certain goals in mind and training has been extremely tough.

"Last year I wanted to do crazy things like competing in four marathons and training for cross country skiing.

"So I was constantly in the gym, constantly on the skier, doing 100 miles a week on the road.

"All those things were not only for track and road gold but also for a skiing gold."

McFadden, who has been competing on this season's IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup circuit, achieving a number of top ten finishes, will be taking part in the sprint, middle and long distance disciplines in Sochi.

Admitting that the change from the track to the snow has been difficult, she claimed her best chance of a medal may well come in the sprint race, where she can rely on her explosive power.

The 24-year-old hopes to transfer her power and speed on the track and road onto the snow in Sochi ©Getty Images



"It's been a tough transition and a learning curve to adapt to the difference requirements of cross country," she said.

"Sprint is definitely my favourite.

"I love to sprint on the track and I love to sprint on the snow.

"In the longer distances there is definitely more technique involved because you have to learn when you need to put your power into the snow and when to hold back.

"I am still learning and adapting to conditions when they change."

Head of US Paralympics Charlie Heubner is in no doubt that McFadden can pull off the transition and hailed the mental as well as physical strength of "an incredible, incredible athlete".

"Having athletes compete in summer and winter Games is not that much out of the norm but this Movement has grown so much and become so competitive that any athletes who have the talent and also the drive and commitment to be able to even consider competing, let alone medal in both Games, is a great tribute to Tatyana's sacrifice and athletic ability," he said.

"It really would be an incredible achievement in what would be an incredible 18 months of performances for her."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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