Scott Meenagh is set to compete in his third Winter Paralympics.
For Scott Meenagh, sport became a vital reason to face each day. Now, at 36, he’s preparing for what he anticipates will be his final Winter Paralympics, with his sights firmly set on a medal.
His life took an unforeseen turn in 2011 while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan. He sustained injuries that led to the loss of both his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province, an event that also claimed the life of a close friend.
Prior to his injury, Meenagh was a rugby player. During his rehabilitation, he transitioned to rowing before ultimately finding his passion in biathlon, a demanding sport that combines cross-country skiing and shooting.
The upcoming games in Milan-Cortina, scheduled for March 6-15 next year, mark the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Winter Paralympics.
“I needed a purpose,” Meenagh stated. “I needed something to get me back on track and engaged with life again. Sport offers the opportunity to become a better version of yourself every day.”
“I feel like I’m in a position where I’m not just given the opportunity to improve, but I’m expected to improve daily, and that’s what motivates me.”
“I’ve faced some incredibly challenging times in my life. I’ve experienced significant trauma and lost a very close friend in Afghanistan. That experience provides a unique perspective and a strong appreciation for life. When you’ve been at your lowest, you strive to make the most of every day.”
“My first experience in high-performance sport was participating in the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014 as a rower. I had the privilege of wearing the Great Britain tracksuit and competing on an international stage in front of my friends and family.”
“It was a significant milestone in my recovery, and it ignited a passion for reaching the next level. That’s when I decided to fully commit my life to sport.”
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However, when Meenagh initially considered becoming a biathlete and pursuing the Winter Paralympics, the response from some quarters was less than encouraging.
“When I embarked on that journey and started asking questions, I was met with an ‘Eddie the Eagle response’.”
He is referencing Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards, the first British ski jumper to compete in the Winter Olympics.
Edwards finished last by a considerable margin at the 1988 Winter Olympics. While some may have dismissed the bespectacled plasterer, he captured the hearts of millions of television viewers worldwide, and his story was later made into a movie in 2016.
Like Eddie the Eagle, Meenagh dared to dream, and his vision, initially conceived in coffee shops, became a reality.
“I think people thought I was joking,” he said. “There was a lot of talk about ‘we’re not just handing out a free tracksuit’ at the beginning.”
“I quickly surrounded myself with people who were enthusiastic about the idea. We could see the potential of a cross-country program.”
Meenagh had been part of the GB rowing setup until 2016, but a visit to the Winter Games a few years prior inspired him to make the switch.
“They sent me to Russia in 2014 to experience the Paralympic Games as part of an inspiration program,” he said. “It was there that I witnessed the biathlon.”
“I was incredibly inspired by the fact that it was a sport that encompasses every aspect an athlete needs – immense aerobic capacity, technical skiing ability, and shooting decision-making, all done in incredibly harsh environments on the other side of the world.”
Scott Meenagh has reached the podium twice and has his sights set on a medal.
The global Paralympic community rallied to help Meenagh’s dream come to fruition.
“We reached out to countries like Canada and the United States for equipment, coaching, and guidance on how to get started,” he said. “We began as a small group in a coffee shop, and it has grown from there.”
“I went to the 2018 games in South Korea as the first British athlete to represent Great Britain in a sit-ski in a very long time. After that, we received support and funding from UK Sport, and suddenly we had a high-performance program. It wasn’t just me; many other athletes and staff joined us on the journey.”
That journey continued through the Covid-19 pandemic and on to the 2022 games in Beijing, where Meenagh finished sixth.
His goal at his farewell games is to win a medal, and he describes himself as unapologetically ambitious.
“I’m starting to feel a bit of pressure as these games approach, given the trajectory we’ve been on in the sport, the performances I’ve delivered, and the results I’ve achieved at World Championships,” Meenagh added.
“I’ve been on the podium twice now, with a silver and a bronze. I’ve earned the right to enter races expecting success.”