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Britain’s great alpine hope Molly Butler on her skiing inspirations

Published August 3, 2025

Updated August 30, 2025

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Paul

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GB alpine ski racer Molly Butler is one of snowsport’s most exciting young talents. In 2025, at the age of just 18, Molly became the British National Champion in Slalom at the GB Alpine Championships held in Santa Caterina, Italy. She claimed second place on the international podium.

Fluent in French thanks to a fledgling career based out of the St. Gervais Ski Club in Megève, France, Molly cites a number of inspirations that have helped to shape her exciting journey so far. Here, the potential future British Winter Olympian tells us about her key role models and influences that have helped her to carve down those white slopes with confidence.

Tessa Worley, French alpine ski racer

When I was younger, my role model was Tessa Worley. To this day she remains one of the best French ski racers, male or female, ever. She’s won multiple World Championships and World Cups, and once she was opening a race in Megève and I remember seeing her and I was like, “Oh my God, you are so cool.”

I must have been about seven when I saw her ski for the first time. I was like, “You’re sick.” Then I started racing, getting into it more. And pre-teen I won one of the French Nationals, and I won her helmet that she won the French Championships in. That was amazing. I saw her at another race, where she was trying to inspire kids. I said, “I won your helmet.” She said, “Oh my God, that’s so cool.” I told her all about when I saw her when I was younger. She’s retired now, but she was one of the best. I’ve got all my trophies presented, and I’ve put Tessa’s helmet in there as well.

“When the last World Baseball Classic (baseball’s World Cup) happened in 2023, no one paid attention to Great Britain baseball until they won a game. When they won that game, they had less than 18 hours left in the tournament. So we had an 18 hour window to take advantage of their first win, and all these great articles were written, and they were all published after the team was on its way home. So turning these fireworks moments, as we call them, into recruitment is the number one thing for the Olympics in 2028.”

Lindsey Vonn, American alpine ski racer

Lindsey Vonn was and still is insane. She’s the epitome of being strong and the most incredible female athlete ever, but you can also look amazing. She’s got gorgeous long blonde hair, the most amazing face full of makeup and you’re thinking, ‘how can you be both?’ That’s really inspiring for young girls. It was for me, and she still is.

Anna Hall, American heptathlete

When I was watching Anna Hall in the Olympics, I was like, “Oh my God, you’re insane”. It’s incredible how she’s able to do so many different events at such a high level, which is amazing. I used to do cross country running and track. I’d do 200m, but eventually I decided to stick to skiing. So I always look up to the athletics athletes. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is another who is amazing, she does the 400m hurdles but she’s only two seconds off the record of the actual 400m, which is crazy given she’s going over hurdles as well. I love all the gymnasts and cross fit guys as well.

Julien Lizeroux, French alpine ski racer

He retired about four years ago, but he was a great inspiration to me. I was quite nervous at a race when I was about 12. He was opening it, there to inspire some of the kids. He looked at me and said, “Why are you nervous?” I said I didn’t know, and he just responded with, “Go on, just look out there. Look.” And we were in Val-d’Isère and I looked out at the mountains. And he said, “Just smile.” And I smiled, and he said, “Now doesn’t that make you feel so much better?” I said, “Yeah, it does actually, doesn’t it?” So sometimes I still do that today, I just go outside and think, somebody’s sitting in an office right now, and I’m doing this.

My mum

My mum isn’t a ski coach but she’s with me wherever I go. She’s my ski tech and preps all of my skis. She tries to find my sponsors. She’s kind of a gopher on the slope. She carries gates, does what the coaches ask, and is always there in the gate with me, always at the start. We have a lot of special moments there. She’s put her whole life on hold for me, which is pretty insane. I’m lucky to have her as my best friend as well as a mum. We drive each other nuts sometimes, but I couldn’t do it without her.

Keep up to date on Molly’s progress at mollybutler.co.uk