Milano Cortina 2026 | Simpson and Guide Rob Win Silver, Securing Great Britain’s First Medal

Photo by ParalympicsGB/Sam Mellish

Milano Cortina, 10 March 2026 — At the Winter Paralympics alpine skiing events, 23-year-old British athlete Neil Simpson and his guide Rob Poth claimed Great Britain’s first medal of the Games, winning silver in the men’s visually impaired alpine combined.

Simpson was fourth after the morning Super-G run, but delivered the fastest time in the slalom run to finish with a total of 1:57.07, completing his full set of Paralympic medals. Simpson said, “The men’s visually impaired field is extremely competitive, so it’s amazing to stand on the podium. The second run went exactly according to plan and worked out perfectly.”

Guide Rob Poth added, “This race has boosted our confidence and set us up well for the upcoming slalom. We are steadily moving closer to the top step of the podium and hope to keep this momentum going.”

In the same session, Fred Warburton and his guide James Hannan did not finish, while in the women’s combined, Menna Fitzpatrick and guide Katie Guest finished ninth with a time of 2:20.88. Fitzpatrick said, “Every race builds experience and confidence, helping us stay calm and ready for the next challenge.”

Simpson and Warburton will compete in the men’s giant slalom VI on 13 March, while Fitzpatrick returns to action in the women’s slalom VI on 14 March.

ParalympicsGB represents England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland at the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. The outstanding performances of its athletes not only inspire the public but also help shift societal perceptions of disability and encourage greater achievement for all.