Trailblazing English athletes have been named among a seven strong ParalympicsGB Wheelchair curling squad for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games (March 6-15).
They are set to be the first representatives from outside Scotland to ever take to the ice at a Paralympic Games.
The team includes Paralympic champion Jo Butterfield MBE, who won club throw gold at Rio 2016 before switching from Para athletics to Wheelchair curling in 2023.
In pursuing her goal of becoming the first British athlete to win gold at both summer and winter Paralympic Games, Butterfield won bronze on her debut at a World Wheelchair Curling Championships in the mixed team event in Canada in 2023.
Following a short spell away from the ice for cancer treatment, she has recovered to resume that mission and this season was part of the winning partnership in a world class field at the Riga International Mixed Doubles tournament.
“Ever since I first became a Paralympian, I’ve carried the dream of not just competing, but of pushing boundaries and seeing what’s possible,” said Butterfield, who was born and raised in Yorkshire, but now represents Scotland at international level.
“To now have the opportunity to go for gold at both a Summer and a Winter Paralympic Games is something I’m incredibly proud of, a goal I set myself when I first transferred to Wheelchair curling in 2023 and it’s a challenge I’m fully committed to embracing.”
She will compete in the mixed doubles with Riga International winning partner Newcastle’s Jason Kean, with the pair already assured of a place in the history books as the first British athletes to take part in the new event of Wheelchair curling mixed doubles at the Paralympic Games.
“It’s not been a smooth journey, but if I’m honest that makes this opportunity all the more meaningful and what makes this even more exciting is sharing it with Jason,” said Butterfield.
“Although we’re both English, we’ve come through different systems, me competing for Scotland where I live and Jason coming through the England set up.
“But that’s the beauty of the Paralympics, it’s the one year that brings the home nations together and gave us an opportunity to try this partnership.”
Along with Karen Aspey and Stewart Pimblett, Kean is one of three athletes in this squad who represented England at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships this year in Stevenston.
They will consequently be the first English internationals to take to the ice in Wheelchair curling at a Paralympic Games, following Ken Dickson, who represented ParalympicsGB at the inaugural Paralympic event at Turin 2006 but, as alternate, never actually took to the ice.
Aspey and Pimblett will compete in the mixed team event, where experienced skip Hugh Nibloe is the only member of the squad to have competed at a Paralympic Winter Games before – Milano Cortina 2026 will be his third Games.
Having won silver and bronze medals in both Wheelchair curling disciplines at World Championships, Nibloe is determined to return with his first Paralympic prize.
“To be selected to represent ParalympicsGB is a huge honour and a career highlight, but I am hoping this will be third time lucky for me as I want to return as a medallist this time,” said the 43-year-old from Stranraer.
He is also joined by fellow Scots Austin McKenzie, who made his World Championship debut as vice skip in Ayrshire and Graeme Stewart, a decorated international Para rower who also accrued 30 caps for Scotland in wheelchair rugby league before switching to Wheelchair curling in 2023.
“The past Paralympic cycle has been the most competitive so far, which is a huge tribute to the work that has been done off the ice and, in particular, the development of Wheelchair curling in England, tapping into a massive talent pool, can only be good for our sport,” said Nibloe.
“With the support we receive in all areas, we have been given every opportunity to maximise our potential and it is now down to us as athletes to take it.”
ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Phil Smith, who heads up the British team once again after taking on the role for Beijing 2022, said:
“I’m really excited to see our Wheelchair curling squad in action at Milano Cortina 2026. The growth of the British Wheelchair curling programme since Beijing 2022 has been a highlight of the past few years and we’re seeing the fruit of that now, with a number of Paralympic debutants from across the country and now the opportunity to field athletes in two events – the mixed doubles and team disciplines. I know the squad will do all they can to deliver incredible performances to give fans back home plenty to cheer about through the Games.”
With thanks to ParalympicsGB
