Mixed Fortunes for Britain Visually Impaired Skiers in Milan

ParalympicsGB / Sam Mellish

At the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games women’s visually impaired slalom, two British athletes had very different outcomes. Twenty-seven-year-old Menna Fitzpatrick finished fifth with a combined time of 1:35.67, while 18-year-old Hester Poole was disqualified in the first run after straddling a gate.

Fitzpatrick said she was pleased with her performance. Considering her form before the Games, she felt the competition had been very successful, especially her effort in the slalom, where she and her team pushed hard on the course.

Poole, competing in her first Paralympics, experienced the harsh side of slalom racing. She attacked the course from the start but made a mistake at one gate, leading to a disqualification. She noted that such incidents are common in slalom and can happen even to top athletes.

Despite the disappointment, Poole said the experience has given her more motivation. She believes sport is not only about the highs but also the lows, and what matters most is getting back up and continuing to push forward.

Fitzpatrick is already looking ahead. She hopes to compete at the 2030 Paralympic Winter Games in France, where she first learned to ski, making the goal especially meaningful for her.