Wheelchair curler Jason Kean has been selected for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina, marking a remarkable recovery from a serious accident. The 39-year-old from Newcastle discovered the sport during hospital stays and credits it with pulling him out of depression. He will compete in mixed doubles alongside Jo Butterfield for ParalympicsGB.
Four years ago, Jason Kean, a 39-year-old from Newcastle and avid motorcyclist, suffered a severe accident that left him hospitalized for five months. Struggling to adapt to life in a wheelchair, he fell into deep depression and faced further challenges, including a hospital readmission for an infection six months later.
It was during his initial hospital stay that Kean met someone who suggested wheelchair curling. Though he initially hesitated, a chance encounter with the same person at a hospital 50 miles away convinced him it was fate. He began playing in November 2022 and quickly progressed, making his international debut within a year.
Supported by fellow curler Stewart Pimblett, Kean joined the England team for the 2024 B World Championships, where their performance secured qualification for the World Championships later that year. His rapid rise culminated in selection for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, partnering with athletics champion Jo Butterfield in mixed doubles.
Reflecting on the sport's impact, Kean said: “This has changed my life completely, the depression side was pretty hard to get through. Meeting the lads and getting involved in sport taught me that there was so much more to life after the accident. They taught me how to live again.”
He emphasized the importance of activity for those with disabilities: “I’m an advocate now that if you have any form of a disability, get out there and play a sport. People will show you have so much more to live for than sitting in your house looking out the window wondering if this it.”
Training involves long trips from Newcastle to Stirling, and Kean balances this with family life, missing events but supported by understanding relatives. Looking ahead, he aims high: “I want a gold medal at the Paras, that is what I’m going for.”
