Nibloe: "ParalympicsGB can be a force again in wheelchair curling"

Hugh Nibloe backed ParalympicsGB’s mixed team wheelchair curling squad to become a force again after they rounded off their tournament at Milano Cortina 2026.

His team lost 9-2 to Norway in their final round robin match at the Winter Paralympics to complete a disappointing campaign in northern Italy.

The British team, which featured four debutants, struggled to find momentum on the ice at Cortina Curling Centre, despite a series of narrow defeats.

“It’s a mixture of emotions,” reflected team skip Nibloe. “The support we’ve had from everybody back home and everybody here, to not be able to give them the results, it’s a learning curve.

“We’re a few miles away but we’re not a million miles away and I think we can be a force again.

“We’ll be back in training in a month’s time and start righting the wrongs.”

Team Nibloe’s only win came in their second match against the USA, when they used an extra end to their advantage to win 6-5.

It showed the promise that Nibloe knows they have, but it was one they could not make count. They lost four consecutive matches by margins of two points or less before confirmation of their exit against China took the wind out of their sails.

Against Norway, the celebrations were audible as the British team flew into a 2-0 lead after an opening end in which they took full advantage of the hammer.

Stewart Pimblett delivered a perfectly weighted take-out to dislodge the offending red stone, that had been closest to the button, to close the end with two yellow stones in the house.

But Norway would rally, and despite GB’s best efforts they fell to three successive 1-0 ends to trail 3-2 at half time.

It remained within reach as they looked to play out another close encounter, but the 2024 World Champions amped it again as they took two consecutive ends 3-0 after the break.

At 9-2 down, Great Britain’s fight was over as they called the match without playing the final two ends.

But Nibloe is confident the team has built a culture that can form the foundations of success.

“We’ve got a lot of good culture, and we’ve got a lot of good building blocks in place,” said the 44-year-old.

“We’ve got a great pathway manager, Cheryl, who is bringing lots of players through and trying it.

“I’d love to see them just build on it because the potential is there. I see it every day in training and I know that if people reach the levels, we’re not a million miles away.”

With Karen Aspey, Austin McKenzie, Graeme Stewart and Pimblett all making their Paralympic debuts, it also means they will return with far more experience in four years’ time.

And Nibloe knows experience better than anyone, having achieved the feat of competing at his third consecutive Games.

“It’s only something I could dream of, getting to three Paralympics. Getting to one was an achievement but getting to three,” he reflected.

“They’ve all been good in their own different ways. I’ve enjoyed every one and I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone that wants to do it.”