Bath native Hester Poole has been officially selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the upcoming Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. At just 18 years old, Hester will compete in the visually impaired category of the Para Alpine events alongside her guide, Ali Hall, with whom she has trained since 2023.
Hester is well-known at the Team Bath Sports Training Village (STV), where she has been honing her skills and enjoying sports for nearly a decade. Beginning her skiing journey at the age of seven, she has steadily advanced through various development stages, starting with Team Bath Tribe activities and progressing to the Team Bath Futures Athlete Development Programme. There, she received customized strength and conditioning training that helped elevate her skiing capabilities.
Following this, Hester moved into the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and eventually secured a spot within the Lottery-funded GB Snowsport Team performance programme. Despite her progression to national-level training, she continues some of her off-slope preparation at the STV, working with the UK Sports Institute (UKSI).
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Jess Clements, Sports Development Manager at Team Bath, expressed pride in Hester’s achievements: “We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hester. Competing at the Paralympic Games has been her dream throughout this journey, and we are thrilled to see her pursue this ambition at Milano-Cortina. Hester’s progress from Team Bath Futures to the world stage is truly inspiring. She exemplifies the dedication and commitment that aspiring athletes should strive for, making her a role model within the STV community.”