For many athletes, a serious injury can derail an entire career. For Kirsty Muir, it became the turning point that solidified her belief that she could return to the top of her sport. The 20-year-old British Winter Olympic freestyle skiing star has faced challenges most people could hardly imagine before their mid-twenties — from grueling rehab sessions to the mental battle of reclaiming confidence after a fall. Yet, as the Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026 Games approach, Muir insists she's not just back to where she was before the injury — she's better.
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Winter Olympic Freestyle Skiing: From Aberdeen's Indoor Slopes to the Olympic Stage
Muir's journey to becoming one of Britain's brightest winter sports prospects began on the indoor slopes of Aberdeen Snowsports Centre. A natural talent from an early age, she was quickly identified as a future star in big air and slopestyle, two of the most daring and creative Winter Olympic freestyle skiing disciplines. By her mid-teens, she was competing internationally, mixing with — and beating — some of the world's best.
Her breakthrough moment came at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, where she won silver in big air. That performance catapulted her into the senior ranks with high expectations. By the time she reached the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic at just 17, she was already being touted as a potential medal contender. She placed fifth in big air — a remarkable result for an Olympic debutante — and seventh in slopestyle, cementing her position as one of the sport's rising stars. You Can Read Winter Olympic 2026: Redefining Victory Nico Porteous Steps Back from Olympic Freestyle Skiing
Winter Olympic Freestyle Skiing: Overcoming Injury and Building Back Stronger
But in early 2023, Muir's rapid ascent was halted. A training crash left her with a serious knee injury, including ligament damage that required surgery. For a sport that relies on explosive jumps, perfect landings, and complete trust in one's body, such an injury can be devastating.
The first few days after the injury were the hardest, Muir recalls. You go from being able to push yourself every day to barely being able to walk. It's a shock — physically and mentally. Rehabilitation became her new full-time job. Under the guidance of physiotherapists and strength coaches, she worked through months of exercises that were as monotonous as they were crucial. It's the small things that get you back, she says. Bending your knee a little further each day, getting stronger in the gym, visualizing the tricks you'll do when you're back.
The Mental Battle
If the physical recovery was slow, the mental side presented its own challenges. Muir admits that the fear of reinjury can creep into every decision an athlete makes after a major fall. There's a moment when you have to trust yourself again — trust your knee, trust your ability. That's not something you can rush. It's about building confidence step by step.
She credits sports psychologists and the support of her family for helping her rebuild that trust. The British Ski and Snowboard team provided a structured return-to-snow program, ensuring she didn't push too fast too soon. They know me, Muir laughs. They know I'm impatient, so they had to keep me in check.
Winter Olympic Freestyle Skiing: From Recovery to Podium Contender
Muir's first competition back came late in the 2023-24 season, a World Cup stop in Switzerland. While the results weren't headline-grabbing, the fact that she was back on snow, hitting jumps, and completing full runs was a victory in itself.
By the following season, she began to resemble her pre-injury self — and in some ways, surpass it. I feel stronger now, she says. Rehab forced me to work on muscles and balance I'd maybe neglected before. I've also learned to listen to my body more. Her recent results prove the point. Podium finishes at both big air and slopestyle World Cups have put her firmly back among the medal contenders for Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026.
Winter Olympic Freestyle Skiing: Chasing Progress and Pushing Limits
For Muir, the Beijing Games were a learning experience. It's a whole different world — the pressure, the scale, the atmosphere, she says. I didn't medal, but I came away knowing what I need to do next time.
And next time is less than two years away. Milano Cortina's Winter Olympic freestyle skiing venues promise to deliver some of the most technically challenging and visually stunning courses in Olympic history, and Muir is determined to be ready. Her training plan is designed to peak in February 2026, with careful load management to avoid setbacks.
She's also adding new tricks to her repertoire. You can't just do what you did last time and expect to win, she explains. The sport is progressing so fast — you need to stay ahead. Among her goals is perfecting a switch double cork 1440 in competition, a trick that would put her in the top tier of technical difficulty for women's Winter Olympic freestyle skiing.
The State of British Winter Olympic Freestyle Skiing
Muir's rise has been a boost for British winter sports, which have traditionally struggled for success on snow. Alongside snowboarders like Katie Ormerod and Mia Brookes, she represents a new generation capable of challenging the world's best in disciplines that once seemed beyond Britain's reach.
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She's quick to point out the role of home-grown facilities in her development. “People think you need mountains to get into freestyle, but that's not true. I started in a snow dome and on dry slopes. They're where I learned the basics. Her success has inspired a wave of young British skiers to try freestyle, and she's become an unofficial ambassador for the sport at home.
Balancing Life and Sport
Despite her competitive focus, Muir says she tries to keep balance in her life. She enjoys spending time with friends, studying part-time, and even dabbling in photography. It's important to have something outside of skiing, she says. When I was injured, those other things kept me grounded.
Still, skiing remains her passion and her primary pursuit. Her schedule is a mix of on-snow training camps in Europe and North America, gym work, and video analysis sessions where she breaks down her runs frame by frame.
Lessons From Injury
Looking back, Muir believes the injury taught her resilience. It was the hardest period of my life so far, she says. But it made me appreciate the sport even more. You don't realize how much you love something until it's taken away.
She also hopes her story will inspire others facing setbacks — whether in sport or life. Whatever your challenge is, it's about patience, hard work, and believing you can get back. It won't happen overnight, but it's possible.
Winter Olympic 2026: From Aberdeen Slopes to Olympic Dreams
As she counts down to Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026, Muir is focused but relaxed. The goal is a medal, of course, she says with a smile. But I also want to enjoy the journey. That's something I learned from the injury — don't take any of it for granted.
Her plan for the next 18 months is clear: refine her tricks, stay healthy, and compete regularly to build confidence. She's also keen to test herself against the best on the biggest stages, entering events like X Games and the Dew Tour as stepping stones toward the Olympics.
In a sport where risk is part of the job, Muir knows there are no guarantees. But she's ready to give everything she has. I've been to the Olympics, I know what it feels like — and I want to feel it again, this time with a medal around my neck. From the slopes of Aberdeen to the global stage, Kirsty Muir's journey has been one of talent, determination, and unshakable belief. Her story is proof that even the toughest setbacks can be springboards to greater success — and as Milano Cortina approaches, she's aiming to show the world just how strong she's come back.
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