Three time paralympian refuses to give up british wheelchair curling veteran still ambitious

At the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy, Great Britain’s mixed wheelchair curling team lost 9–2 to Norway in their final round-robin match, finishing 10th overall and missing out on the semi-finals. After the match, 44-year-old British veteran Hugh Nibloe said that although the team’s results at this Games fell short of expectations, the squad still has the potential to rise again.

Nibloe noted that the British wheelchair curling team has a strong team culture and a stable player development pathway, with a new generation of athletes continuing to emerge. He said the team’s potential is evident in training: “We may still be some distance away, but we’re certainly not a million miles away. I believe this team can become a competitive force again in the future.”

Reflecting on competing in three Winter Paralympic Games, Nibloe said simply reaching the Paralympic stage is an honour. “Getting to one Paralympics is already an achievement, and getting to three feels like a dream come true. Each one has been special in its own way and has given me different and valuable memories.”

On the alpine skiing slopes, the British team continues to push for medals. Earlier, visually impaired alpine skier Neil Simpson secured Team GB’s first medal of the Games. In the women’s visually impaired giant slalom, Menna Fitzpatrick finished sixth with a combined time of 2:36.51. She said the team executed a more aggressive strategy in the second run, with communication and tempo improving significantly. Recent races have also helped rebuild her confidence, and she is looking forward to the upcoming slalom event.

Eighteen-year-old Hester Poole was unable to finish her first run in her Paralympic debut. She said the experience will serve as a new starting point and hopes to reset and deliver a stronger performance in Saturday’s slalom race.

As the Games move into their later stages, Team GB will continue to chase medals in several events, including alpine skiing, snowboarding and biathlon.