In the run in to the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games, SDS is featuring the seven Scottish athletes who will compete as part of the ParalympicsGB team and today we feature Para Nordic Skiing and Scott Meenagh.
Para Nordic skiing consists of two disciplines, cross-country skiing and biathlon. Until 2018, Great Britain had not had representation in the sport at this level since the 1998 Paralympic Games in Nagano. Both para Nordic skiing disciplines have medal events for men and women.
Cross country skiers can compete in individual or team, classical or freestyle events ranging from 2.5km to 20km in distance. Visually impaired skiers compete with a guide, while athletes with a physical impairment compete using either a sit-ski or standing using one or two skis and/or poles.
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and target shooting. Athletes compete in one of three categories: sitting, standing and visually-impaired. Athletes ski three 2.5km legs (7.5km in total) and fire at five targets (located 10m from the shooter) between each leg using air guns that are mounted on stands.
The cross-country events at Sochi 2014 were dominated by the Russian Federation who won 32 of the 60 available medals – 12 gold, nine silver and 11 bronze. Canada and the Ukraine finished second and third on the medal table respectively, with the former winning four gold medals and the latter claiming one gold, six silvers and three bronzes. It was a similar story in biathlon with Russia taking 30 of the 55 medals – 12 golds, 11 silvers and seven bronzes – while the Ukraine finished second in the standings with four golds, three silvers and eight bronzes and Germany were third with two gold and a silver.
Cross-Country skiing first appeared at the Örnsköldsvik 1976 Paralympic Winter Games. Biathlon for athletes with a physical impairment was introduced at the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Games. Athletes with a visual impairment were added into the biathlon programme in 1992.
Scott Meenagh was inspired to try Para Nordic skiing after getting a taste of winter sport during Sochi 2014, which he experienced as part of the Paralympic Inspiration Programme.
Prior to that Scott competed in para rowing at an international level. He started Nordic Skiing in December 2014 and made the switch from rowing full time in March 2016. Scott made his competitive debut for Great Britain at the World Cup in Vuokatti, Finland in December 2016.
As a youngster Scott played rugby competitively and represented West of Scotland and Scotland under 18s. He was injured when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Afghanistan at the age of 21.
Read Scott’s athlete profile at https://www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/scott-meenagh/
Further information relating to snowsports in Scotland can be found at https://www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Snowsports.pdf