Royal Navy alpine skier looks back on 10 years of Meribel after announcing retirement
One of the constants of the Inter Services Snow Sports championships in Meribel has been Royal Navy alpine skier Lieutenant Brett Wild.
Since 2014, he's been competing on the slopes and has led the Navy men's team as captain for the past seven years.
However, 2025 is the final year of competition for Lt Wild as he announced his retirement and handed over the captaincy to Leading Hand Graeme Price.
Paralympic Games memories and partnership with Millie Knight
While a strong competitor at Meribel, it's perhaps Lt Wild's adventures at the Paralympic Games that will stick with him the most.
He competed at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, as well as the Beijing Games four years later as a guide for visually impaired GB skier Millie Knight.
He won four medals across those events, including three in South Korea, before announcing his retirement from that stage on the final day in 2022.
The pair also competed at World Championships and World Cup events, winning six medals including two golds in 2017 and 2021.
Back on the podium after tough two years
The 2025 Inter Services was a return to form for the Alpine ski veteran as he picked up two bronze medals and a silver across the week.
It's a welcome change after a challenging 2023 and 2024 and the return to the podium provided a fitting finale to his Meribel career.
"I'm glad I'm ending on a high," he said. "It's definitely a weight that's been lifted as I've really struggled over the last two years. Before I went with Millie, I was on the podium quite a lot.
"I felt like I was quite a good skier and then I came back and I think it was the Navy championships last year that I came ninth out of our boys.
"Everyone was saying 'are you even going to go to the Inter Services?' so this year to get back to where I think I can ski has been brilliant."
The reason to hang up the skis
For Lt Wild, making the decision to retire was a tough one but his career choices and an addition to his family will come first in 2026.
"I announced at the start of the season that it's my last year and I'm retiring," said the outgoing Navy Alpine men's captain.
"I made the decision. I'm joining my submarine next year and I'm going to have quite a challenging job which I'm really looking forward to.
"I've got a baby on the way in July so it's definitely the right time. My wife is not letting me go skiing for six weeks again!"
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