First British athletes selected for Sochi 2014

Further team announcements for Sochi 2014 will be made over the coming months, with alpine skiing and ice sledge hockey still in the final stages of qualification.

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) on Wednesday (28 August) announced the first four athletes who have been selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

The athletes, who are selected for wheelchair curling, are Gregor Ewan, Tom Killin, Aileen Neilson and Bob McPherson.

Great Britain won silver in wheelchair curling at the Torino 2006 Paralympic Games. The team, which competes as Team Scotland at World Championship level, has produced strong performances at international competitions between the last Games in Vancouver, including silver at the 2011 World Championships.

Killin is the most experienced athlete on the team, having previously represented Great Britain at the 1980 and 1984 Paralympic Games. He will make his third appearance in wheelchair curling for ParalympicsGB in Sochi, having already competed in that sport at both Vancouver 2010 and Torino 2006, where the team won silver.

Commenting on his selection, Killin said: “I am over the moon to be selected for Sochi 2014. This will be my fifth Paralympics and I am as excited today as I was on my first selection (to compete in Wheelchair Fencing) for Arnhem 1980.”

Aileen Neilson joins Killin in the lineup and makes her second appearance for ParalympicsGB after making her debut at Vancouver 2010, where the team finished in sixth place.

Speaking of her selection, Neilson said: “Competing at a Paralympic Games is the pinnacle of any athlete’s career, and I’m so pleased to be representing ParalympicsGB for the second time in Sochi. It is a real honour to be named as Skip for the team, and I’m really looking forward to the next few months as we make our final preparations for the Games.”

Gregor Ewan and Bob McPherson are set to make their Paralympic debut. Both players have established good team-work with Killin and Neilson, having competed as part of Team Scotland at the 2013 World Championships in February this year. The quartet will benefit from their experience on the ice at those World Championships, which were also held in Sochi.

Further team announcements for Sochi 2014 will be made over the coming months, with alpine skiing and ice sledge hockey still in the final stages of qualification.