ParalympicsGB Medal Hopes Dashed as Neil Simpson Misses Giant Slalom Gate
ParalympicsGB suffered a significant setback on day seven of the Winter Paralympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo as medal favourite Neil Simpson skied out of an early gate in the men's giant slalom VI event. The 23-year-old, who had secured Britain's first and only medal so far at Milano Cortina 2026 with silver in the alpine combined, saw his hopes evaporate halfway down the Tofane piste.
Technical Error Proves Costly for Simpson and Guide
Simpson, guided by Rob Poth, was second out of the gate and the first British athlete in action on Friday morning. The pair were ahead of eventual gold medallist Giacomo Bertagnolli when a slight line error caused Simpson to ski wide of a gate, resulting in immediate disqualification. "We just made a slight line error. In the end it was very costly unfortunately," Simpson reflected afterwards. "There was some good skiing, and we will try and take confidence from that."
With no second chances in Para-alpine skiing, the disappointment was palpable. Guide Rob Poth, 28, acknowledged the frustration but emphasized resilience: "That's ski racing. You have your highs and lows. We know the skiing is there in training. We're not going to dwell on it too much." The duo now regroup for Sunday's slalom, Simpson's final opportunity to add to his medal tally from Beijing 2022.
Challenging Course Conditions Add to Athlete Struggles
The Tofane Ski Centre presented unusually difficult conditions that affected multiple competitors. While Simpson's visually impaired category benefited from relatively early runs, the situation deteriorated significantly for later categories. British Para-alpine skier Fred Warburton offered a vivid description: "There was more salt in that piste than in the dead sea. One gate was absolutely rock solid where the salt had set in and the next gate was like a bathtub of slush puppy."
By the conclusion of all three races (visually impaired, standing, and sitting categories), an astonishing 29 athletes had failed to finish. Sit skiers, who competed last, accounted for 18 of those non-finishes, with the salt-treated surface becoming increasingly unpredictable. Thursday's rainfall had further complicated piste maintenance during what has otherwise been a sunny week in the Dolomites.
Historic British Debuts Amid the Disappointment
While Simpson's exit dominated British attention, several ParalympicsGB athletes made historic debuts during the day's events. Nina Sparks became the first woman to represent Britain in Paralympic snowboarding, finishing 10th in the SB-LL2 banked slalom category. "It's definitely not sunk in," said the 35-year-old. "[It's been a] pretty crazy day. To have just put down a run that I'm really, really proud of. I will take that."
The youngest member of the British team, 16-year-old Dom Allen, also made his Paralympic debut in the Para-alpine skiing giant slalom standing event, finishing 25th with a time of 2:41.35. "I'm absolutely ecstatic, especially finishing both my runs," Allen exclaimed. "It's my dream to become a Paralympian and I can tick that off now." Additional debuts included Matt Hamilton in Para snowboarding and Sam Cozens in Para-alpine skiing, guided by Aberdeen's Adam Hall.
Looking Ahead to Sunday's Slalom Finale
All attention now turns to Sunday's slalom events, where Simpson and Poth will have their final opportunity to secure a medal at these Games. The pair topped the slalom standings when they won silver in the men's alpine combined earlier in the week, providing genuine hope for a podium finish. "We have another race day and maybe another short training session to get fully prepared, but we are ready to go," confirmed Poth. "The confidence is still there in the training. Hopefully we have a good last race."
Despite the day's disappointments, the British team demonstrated remarkable resilience, with debut performances offering promising signs for future Paralympic campaigns. The challenging conditions at Cortina have tested all athletes, but the final day of competition promises high drama as ParalympicsGB seeks to end the Winter Games on a triumphant note.
