First ParalympicsGB snowsport athletes for Milano Cortina 2026 announced

Two Paralympic medallists are amongst the first six competitors selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Athletes from Para Alpine skiing, Para Snowboard and Para Nordic (Biathlon and Cross-country) disciplines will feature in the British team at the Games which take place in Italy from 6 – 15 March next year.

Defending champion Neil Simpson, who made history when he became the first British male athlete to win gold on snow alongside his guide and brother Andrew on the slopes at Beijing 2022, will line up at his second Paralympic Games.

The 23-year-old from Banchory in Aberdeenshire competes in the AS3 class for visually impaired athletes and will be joined by two guides. His brother Andrew, who claimed Super-G gold and Super Combined bronze alongside Neil at Beijing 2022 - will guide Neil in the speed events, while two-time British Slalom champion Rob Poth will guide the technical events having teamed up with Neil at the 2023 World Championships, where the pair won three medals together.

Neil Simpson said: “The Paralympics are the pinnacle of our sport, so it is a great honour to be selected for the ParalympicsGB team for Milan Cortina 2026. Since they are being held in a country that is so enthusiastic about skiing, there should be a great atmosphere.”

Scott Meenagh will be hoping to sign off a spectacular decade in Para Nordic competition in Italy next year. The 36-year-old from Cumbernauld made his Games debut at Pyeongchang 2018 after attending Sochi 2014 as part of ParalympicsGB’s Paralympic Inspiration Programme, becoming the first British Para Nordic skier to compete at that level in 20 years.

Then in 2023, Scott became the first British athlete to win a Para Nordic World Championships medal when he took silver in the 12.5km individual biathlon. Earlier this year he finished fourth at the Para Biathlon World Cup Sprint in Val di Fiemme before rounding off the season with a superb bronze medal-winning performance at the Para Biathlon Sprint World Cup in Sweden, finishing third in the Sprint Pursuit and third overall in the World Cup standings.

Now with plans to call time on his Para Nordic career after these Games, Meenagh said:

“I am incredibly proud to be selected to represent Great Britain at the Paralympic Winter Games. Every time is incredibly special, and this year will be my third Games. This is a testament to the powerful dream we had as a group, when this journey was conceived in a coffee shop in 2016.

“A Games in Italy will be extra special as it’s much closer to home. To have my wife, children, family, and friends travelling to support me will help push me to another level.”

Completing the ski and snowboard line up for the first wave of selections to ParalympicsGB are snowboarders James Barnes-Miller and Ollie Hill.

Hill made his Paralympic debut at Beijing 2022 and returned home as ParalympicsGB’s first-ever snowboard medallist, winning bronze in the LL2 Banked Slalom final. He followed that up with winning the Banked Slalom Crystal Globe in 2023 and kicked off the 2025 / 26 season with two fifth places at the World Cup in the Netherlands.

Making his Paralympic debut in 2018, Barnes-Miller was the first snowboarder to represent ParalympicsGB – the sport was added to the Paralympic programme at Sochi 2014.

Last month the 36-year-old became a father for the first time, and after a brief paternity leave at home in the French Alps, will be back in action in January.

ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Phil Smith, who heads up the British team once again after taking on the role for Beijing 2022, said:

“With less than 80 days to go before the Games begin, I’m absolutely delighted to see the first names on the ParalympicsGB team sheet for Milano Cortina 2026. With the winter season now underway there is a real sense of excitement of what is to come in Italy next year. All six athletes bring with them a wealth of experience and I cannot wait to see them in action knowing they will do all they can to deliver incredible performances to make the nation proud.”

The second wave of athletes from Para Alpine skiing and Para Snowboard will be selected next February.