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A 19-year-old from Norfolk who has been skiing since the age of five despite being visually impaired is preparing to debut at the Paralympic Winter Games.
Sam Cozens, from Hethersett, learned to ski on a dry slope near Norwich before he was scouted in his teenage years and started competing on the world stage.
At four months old he was diagnosed with nystagmus, a condition which causes involuntary, rhythmical or repetitive movements of the eyes and he will take to the slopes with a guide.
"It has been a dream of mine for so many years to compete in the Paralympics and it's finally come true," he said.
Cozens is one of 25 athletes who will be representing ParalympicsGB at the Games and will be competing in slalom and giant slalom.
He said: "When I was a kid I started here at Trowse dry slope in Norfolk and I learned here from the age of five all the way up until 15."
The Paralympics became a possibility for him when he was spotted by the GB Snowsport Para development team.
Living with nystagmus means Cozens has limited peripheral vision, no depth perception and makes him extremely light sensitive, meaning he skis with a guide.
"Most slopes aren't going to be consistent in light as well as consistent terrain so obviously if you've got things like trees on the side it causes shadows on the slopes which really messes around with my vision," he said.
'The biggest achievement is a medal'
Cozens communicates with his guide Adam Hall via a headset inside their helmets.
This allows Hall to tell Cozens if there are any changes to the course including patches of ice or changes in light.
"We have been together coming up four or five years, we have a good bond I like to say," said Cozens.
"He is a bit like a slightly annoying older brother... when we are skiing we are skiing together and it all falls into place."
While other athletes have told him to enjoy his first Games, he is hoping to finish in the top 10.
He said: "The main goal and the biggest achievement ever is a medal. A realistic goal is top 10 - I would be so happy with a top 10, that's my main focus."
His mum, Beki Cozens, said seeing her son about to debut at the Games was "mind-blowing".
"He went through school and tried different sports, every time contact sports was just not for him so we decided to find something different and skiing was something we thought he could have a go at," she said.
As he began to get faster on the slopes, she said it became apparent he needed a guide after struggling to see the ski poles.
"It was always his dream and having a child with a disability you always want the best for that child... we just wanted to nurture it and make it happen for him," she said.
"I would say about 80% of my life has been fighting for different things for him to be able to do; the costs, the time that it takes and running him about - that's phenomenal."
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