Hester Poole, an 18-year-old skier from Bath, has been officially selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. Competing in the visually impaired Para Alpine category, Hester will team up with her guide Ali Hall, with whom she has trained since 2023.
A long-standing member of the Team Bath Sports Training Village (STV), Hester’s journey began over a decade ago. Starting skiing at age seven, she moved through various stages of development, including Team Bath Tribe activities and the Team Bath Futures Athlete Development Programme, where she benefited from tailored strength and conditioning training. She briefly joined the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) before advancing to the Lottery-funded GB Snowsport Team performance programme. Hester continues some off-slope training at the STV with support from the UK Sports Institute (UKSI).
Jess Clements, Sports Development Manager at Team Bath, praised Hester’s dedication and achievements, saying, “Hester has always dreamed of competing at the Paralympic Games. We are incredibly proud of her progress and inspired by her commitment, which serves as a shining example to the athletes currently on the Futures programme.”
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Former pupil of King Edward’s School (KES), Bath, Hester will make her Paralympic debut in Italy this March, competing in Slalom and Giant Slalom alongside guide Ali Hall. Her selection follows an impressive trajectory that includes early grassroots racing, an international debut at age 12, and progression through GB Snowsport’s Para Alpine Development Squad to the World Cup circuit.
In addition to her sporting success, Hester has excelled academically. After achieving straight A* grades at A-Level, she recently accepted an offer to study English at the University of Cambridge, highlighting her exceptional balance of athletic and academic pursuits.
Reflecting on her journey, Hester shared, “I am thrilled to represent Great Britain at the Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games. I’m deeply grateful to KES for supporting me throughout my journey. Their dedication ensured I never had to choose between sport and education. To all my teachers, thank you for your unwavering belief and encouragement, even when my commitments stretched me thin.”
KES Headmaster Martin Boden congratulated Hester, stating, “Her remarkable achievements exemplify the spirit of King Edward’s School. Hester’s talent, determination, and dedication both on the slopes and in her studies have been inspiring. We are immensely proud to see her represent her country on the Paralympic stage and wish her every success in Cortina.”