Mum 'super proud' of Olympian daughter Mia Brookes

3 hours ago

Alex McIntyre & Richard Price,West Midlandsand

Susan Hanks,BBC Radio Stoke

Mia Brookes's parents Nigel and Vicky have been staying close to the Winter Olympics venue

Vicky Brookes Mia Brookes standing between her mum Vicky and dad Nigel. The venue for the 2026 Winter Olympics can be seen in the background. They are all wearing head coverings and jackets. — Mia Brookes's parents Nigel and Vicky have been staying close to the Winter Olympics venue

The mother of Winter Olympics snowboarder Mia Brookes has said she was "super proud" of everything her daughter had achieved.

Mia Brookes, 19, came fourth in the big air event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games after over-rotating on her final trick, which BBC Sport commentators said would likely have won her gold.

Her Olympics came to an end on Sunday after the athlete, from Sandbach, Cheshire, failed to qualify for the final of the slopestyle event.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke before the second event, her mum Vicky Brookes said it had been a stressful experience but her daughter had handled the pressure well.

"We're very proud of everything she's achieved," Vicky Brookes said. "It's been a difficulty journey; obviously coming from Cheshire and not being in the mountains full time.

"We're super proud of the work she's put in and the results she's achieved. It's just really, really exciting. It's been a wonderful journey."

She said of her daughter's fourth place in the big air contest: "It was unreal… I think everybody enjoyed the show more than the chance of having a medal."

Mia Brookes narrowly missed out on a medal in the snowboard big air final

PA Media Mia Brookes wearing a Team GB snowboarding outfit, including a purple helmet, has her arms outstretched as she lands a trick on a snow slope. There are two blue lines across the white slope. — Mia Brookes narrowly missed out on a medal in the snowboard big air final

Vicky Brookes and husband Nigel Brookes have been staying in a camper-van about half a mile (0.8km) from the athletes' village.

This enabled their daughter to escape the intensity of the venue, Vicky Brookes said, and spend time with her parents in between events or training.

This included trips out shopping, having dinner, watching movies or playing with Lego.

"It's just coming back to reality and coming down to earth," she added.

Mia Brookes has been snowboarding since she was 18 months old

PA Media A woman wearing a helmet, goggles and a black face covering rests her chin on the edge of her snowboard. — Mia Brookes has been snowboarding since she was 18 months old

Mia Brookes is among the biggest names in snowboarding, despite her young age, having become the sport's youngest senior world champion in 2023.

She is also a two-time gold medallist at the X Games, an invitation-only event widely seen as the holy grail of action sports.

The Team GB athlete first tried snowboarding aged just 18 months old at Kidsgrove Ski Centre in north Staffordshire.

Despite all her success, Vicky Brookes said her daughter remained "a normal 19-year-old kid" who goes through "the normal 19-year-old girl things".

"We have to lean into that as well as respecting her as an elite athlete, which is what she is now," she said.

"It can be very challenging but she's a great girl and we're really proud of her. There's a lot of stress, a lot of pressure but she does phenomenally well."

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