Para Nordic progress as GB compete in first ever relay

ParalympicsGB signed off from Beijing 2022 in style as Steve Arnold, Scott Meenagh, Steve Thomas and Callum Deboys combined to finish 12th in the cross country open relay.

The quartet finished in a time of 35:27.3, in what was their first-ever time racing a relay team.

Having only one Para Nordic representative in Meenagh at Pyeongchang 2018, it highlights the significant growth of the sport in Britain over this Paralympic cycle.

“It’s fairly significant in terms of a mark of progress of how the programme’s developed,” said Meenagh.

“Having a relay team on the start line today and a relay ream that didn’t include all the athletes we have on the ground is testament to the progression we’ve made.

“We’ve come on aeons in such a short period of time, every other nation in the world has noticed it as well and it’s something we’re really proud of. Just to feel the team here is just a real marker that maybe come Milan we participated today, and hopefully in four years’ time we’ll be on that start line competing in a race like the relay.

Fresh from making his Paralympic debut in yesterday’s middle distance cross country- race, Arnold was delighted to be ending his time in Beijing on a high alongside the teammates that have been an integral part in his journey towards becoming a Paralympian.

“Today was about having a bit of fun, it’s still a race but this group’s been together for four years and it was great just to ski with all four of us,” said Arnold.

“We’ve had some tough times over the last four years, we didn’t know if all of us would make it so it’s nice to end the Paralympic Games with all four of us who started this journey in 2018.

“We all watched Scott ski in 2018 and to be here and have four of us ski is a great way to end the Games.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Thomas, a veteran of six Paralympic Games, wasn’t ruling out the possibility of lining up on the start line at a seventh Games when Milan Cortina host the next Paralympic Winter Games.

“At the end of any cycle there’s a sit down, time to reflect and see where it went right, see where it went wrong, but I love the sport. Four years is a long way but Milan sounds quite good.

“It’s been a fantastic week, the organisation has been out of this world, the team spirit has been amazing as well and that just goes to show on a day like today in the team sprint we were all there rooting for each other and it was a good feeling to have.