Neil Simpson

Neil wrote his name in to the history books at Beijing 2022 – his debut Paralympic Games – when he became the first British male athlete to win gold on snow alongside his brother and guide Andrew. The pair won gold in the Super-G and followed that up with bronze in the Super Combined.

Neil, who competes in the AS3 class for visually impaired skiers, was born with nystagmus which causes involuntary eye movements. He started skiing at the age of four on Aberdeen’s dry ski slope, joining Gordon Skiers club to begin training on snow at The Lecht and Glenshee in Scotland.

Neil competed in the 2018 British Para Alpine Championships and won two golds, and later that year was selected for the GB Para Alpine team.

His first major podium finish came when he placed third in the Giant Slalom at the 2020 World Cup in Slovenia – gold in the Slalom quickly followed. Further medals came his way at the Para Alpine World Cup, then at his maiden World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway in January 2022 he won Super Combined silver.

With Andrew injured, Neil teamed up with guide Rob Poth for the 2023 World Championships and the pair won three medals including another gold in the Super-G. In the ²⁰²⁴⁄₂₅ season Neil and Rob won the Giant Slalom at the World Cup in Courchevel, France before going on to finish fifth in the Giant Slalom at the Para Alpine World Championships.

Neil was nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2020 and won Sportsperson of the Year and Para athlete of the Year at the 2022 Scottish Sports Awards. He received an MBE in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to skiing.