30. 08. 10. - 16:00

Heather Mills wins army shooting event

Former model Heather Mills won the ladies competition as she spontaneously took part in an army shooting contest on the weekend.

Kleine Zeitung newspaper reports today (Mon) that the ex-wife of Beatles legend Paul McCartney turned up at the shooting competition of the Austrian army’s East Tyrol division in Lavant – and came first in the ladies event, leaving dozens of female soldiers behind her.

Mills – who wears a prosthesis after losing part of her left leg in a traffic accident in 1993 – told the newspaper she was training for the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, by spending time in Austria.

"I’m training on the Mölltaler Glacier," she said, while her coach Alexander Köll said: "She’s incredibly ambitious. It’s outstanding what she achieves wearing a prosthesis."

Asked why she picked the province of Carinthia to prepare for the Paralympics, Mills said: "I came here to go skiing many years ago – before I was wearing a prosthesis. When I felt like skiing recently, Carinthia came into my mind immediately."

Mills – who also campaigns for the animal rights organisation PETA – said she was now dividing her time between her main residence near London and Carinthia.

"I enjoy everything here – especially the friendliness of the people," she said.

Reports have it that locals have given her the nickname "Hedwig" – an old-fashioned German female first name – because its easier to say than Heather.

Local daily Kärntner Tageszeitung revealed earlier this month that the 42-year-old bought a special prosthesis she can use to go skiing at an orthopaedic store in Klagenfurt.

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• Jane wrote on 31. 08. 2010 from UK

  This makes no sense. What kind of army lets a civillian walk in and pick up a gun? One with money?

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• Alyssa wrote on 30. 08. 2010 from USA

  She has a weapon??? Great.

  Reply