Hester Poole, an 18-year-old visually impaired skier from Bath, has been selected for ParalympicsGB at the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics while securing a place at the University of Cambridge. Meanwhile, defending champion Neil Simpson from Banchory aims to replicate his Beijing success alongside his guides. Both athletes highlight the balance between sport and academics as they prepare for the event starting in March 2026.
Hester Poole's selection for the ParalympicsGB team came in February 2026, just three weeks before the Opening Ceremony in Milano Cortina. The 18-year-old from Bath, who competes in para-alpine skiing, received the news shortly after an offer to study English Literature at the University of Cambridge. She balanced A-level revision, university applications, and World Cup competitions during this period.
"It’s been a nail-biting wait but it feels all the sweeter for it. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet," Poole said. She has dreamed of attending Cambridge since age eight and views academics as a gateway to other opportunities, an ethos she applies to sport. Poole credits her support network, including teachers who accommodated her incomplete assignments over four years.
Born with a congenital condition that left holes in her vision, Poole was inspired by Kelly Gallagher's gold medal at Sochi 2014, now her coach. She began training at a junior club in the Mendips and joined the GB program at age 12. Poole will debut alongside guide Alistair Hall, who is studying psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She also serves as an ambassador for Guide Dogs for the Blind and Ethiopia Aid, emphasizing opportunity and choice.
"It’s all about creating opportunities and giving people the choice and the knowledge that they can do what they want with their life," she stated.
In a separate development, 23-year-old Neil Simpson from Banchory prepares to defend his title after winning gold in the Super-G and bronze in the super combined at Beijing 2022, becoming the first British man to claim gold on snow at the Paralympics. Born with nystagmus, Simpson started skiing at age four and was awarded an MBE post-Beijing. He will compete in five events at Milano Cortina, starting March 6, 2026, with brother Andrew guiding speed events and Rob Poth assisting in technical disciplines via a Bluetooth headset system.
"We've performed at that level, so it actually takes off a bit of pressure," Simpson told the Press Association. His brother Andrew, 25, returned to competition in March 2025 after an injury. "We're all skiing well... so I think we're in a good position," Andrew added. Simpson focuses on performance rather than specific results.
