Scott Meenagh, a 35-year-old sports scholar, will compete in two major international events in the coming weeks – the Para Biathlon World Cup and Para Biathlon World Championships.
The Para Nordic skier will travel to Val Di Femme in Italy for the World Cup running between January 27-30, which serves as a test event ahead of next year’s Paralympics.
Meenagh will then travel to Pokljuka in Slovenia for the World Championships February 4 – 9.
A two-time Paralympic competitor, Meenagh said: “I am looking forward to heading to Italy this week to prepare for the upcoming Paralympic test event.
“The competition allows us to get a look at the stadium and course that will feature in next year’s Winter Paralympic Games.
“I am really excited to be back racing a full World Cup calendar after last season being pretty curtailed by injury and illness.
“We are in a pretty nice place, and looking forward to building on the progress we have made as we turn our attention to next year’s Games.”
A former soldier in the British Army Parachute Regiment, Meenagh lost both of his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device whilst serving in Afghanistan at the age of 21.
He was inspired to take up Para Nordic skiing whilst spectating at the Winter Paralympics in Sochi 2014.
Two years later, he joined the Armed Forces Para Snow Sports Team.
He was selected for the 2018 Winter Paralympics, becoming the first British Nordic skier to compete at the Games for 20 years.
He competed at the Games in 2022, securing his best-ever Paralympic result with sixth in the long-distance biathlon.
A year later, he became the first British athlete to win a Para Nordic World Championship medal when he took silver in the 12.5km individual biathlon.
Meenagh returned to education through the Open University in 2017 and is now on the International Sports Scholarship Programme at Stirling.
He is in his fourth year studying History and receives additional support through the national sports scholarship programme, Winning Students 100.
Featured Image Credit: University of Stirling
