Calgary's Michelle Salt named to Sochi para-snowboard team

Calgary's Michelle Salt will compete at the Sochi 2014 ParalympicWinter Games as part of a four-person para-snowboarding team in the sport's debut appearance.

Salt, 28, will join Team Canada's roster of three para-snowboarders who were nominated on Jan. 26: Tyler Mosher and Ian Lockey, both of B.C., and John Leslie of Ontario.

Salt was injured earlier this season and so was not expected to be able to compete. However, a medical exemption granted by the International Paralympic Committee made it possible for her fill the fourth qualifying spot.

Salt is relatively new to the para-snowboard world. She lost her right leg above the knee in a near-fatal motorcycle accident in June 2011.

After the accident, Salt says she became determined to one day participate in the Paralympic Games. She placed seventh last yearat the 2013IPCWorld Cup in Big White, B.C.

"It's pretty incredible that two-and-a-half years ago I was lying in a hospital bed struggling for my life, and now here I am with the opportunity to make history with the debut of the sport and to proudly represent my country," said Salt.

"I'm going to ride my heart out and see where that goes."

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from March 7 to 16.

Canada will send about 50 athletes to compete in sledge hockey, wheelchair curling, para-Nordic skiing, biathlon, para-alpine skiing and para-snowboarding.