Seven Scottish athletes are among the final 12 to be selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games which takes place in Italy next month (6-15 March).
Edinburgh’s Davy Zyw will be the be the first snowsport athlete with motor neurone disease (MND), a degenerative neurological condition, to ever compete at the Games.
Six-time Paralympic medallist Menna Fitzpatrick, who made her Games debut in Pyeongchang eight years ago, will line up alongside Scottish guide Katie Guest in the Para Alpine events in Cortina d’Ampezzo following a period of rehabilitation from injury.
The 27-year-old visually impaired skier said: “I’m so grateful to be heading back to race in my third Paralympic Games after what has been a couple of challenging rehab journeys in the last two years. Milano Cortina, I’m coming with renewed focus, resilience, and excitement for what’s ahead and with the aim of enjoying the whole experience.”
Zyw was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2018 and since then has been determined to raise awareness and funding for research into the condition, taking part in numerous challenges, activities and campaigns alongside his job in the wine trade – he is an expert champagne buyer and author.
The 38-year-old has secured a number of Europa Cup podium finishes already this season including two silvers in Big White, Canada in February – taking home overall bronze in the season-long rankings.
Zyw said: “I’m stoked beyond measure. Every time I strap into my snowboard I count my stars, getting selected isn’t just a personal achievement. I represent and ride for every soul who fights neuro conditions."
Fellow snowboarder Matt Hamilton will also make his Paralympic debut, having been inspired to participate in sport after watching London 2012 and initially competing in junior international athletics. Matt was living in Canada when he first came to the attention of the GB Para Snowboard Team in 2022 and has progressed through the Europa Cup and World Cup levels since then. He is now based in Scotland and is supported by the sportscotland institute of sport.
Three teenagers will also line up in Italy at their first ever Paralympic Games. 16-year-old Dom Allen, who joined the GB Para Alpine Development Squad in 2023, will compete in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events in the standing Para Alpine class, while Hester Poole and Sam Cozens compete in the visually impaired events.
Phil Smith, Chef de Mission for ParalympicsGB at Milano Cortina 2026, said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome the final athletes to the ParalympicsGB team for these Games, completing our fantastic team of 25 talented athletes. Every one of them has worked incredibly hard to get here and I can’t wait to see them competing in Italy when the action starts.”
The 12 Para athletes announced today join team members who were confirmed in December last year, completing a team of 25 who will represent ParalympicsGB:
Full athlete list (Scottish athletes in bold)
Para Alpine
Menna Fitzpatrick, Katie Guest (guide)
Sam Cozens, Adam Hall (guide)
Fred Warburton, James Hannan (guide)
Dom Allen
Hester Poole, Ali Hall (guide)
Neil Simpson, Andrew Simpson (guide), Rob Poth (guide)
Para Snowboard
Nina Sparks, Matt Hamilton, Davy Zyw, Ollie Hill, James Barnes-Miller
Para Nordic
Scott Meenagh
Wheelchair curling mixed doubles
Jo Butterfield & Jason Kean
Wheelchair curling mixed team
Hugh Nibloe, Karen Aspey, Austin McKenzie, Stewart Pimblett, Graeme Stewart.
