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Reading’s Ollie Hill is ready to put his injury nightmares behind him as he bids to win a second Paralympic medal at Milano Cortina 2026.
The 36-year-old claimed Great Britain’s first ever Paralympic snowboard medal at Beijing 2022 when he claimed bronze in the LL2 banked slalom event.
World Cup success followed his exploits in the Chinese capital as the Reading native went on to claim the 2022/23 Crystal Globe in the same discipline.
But after a series of crashes in 2023 resulted in shoulder surgery, Hill, who was a talented motorbike rider prior to the car accident in December 2018 which caused his right leg to be amputated, also began suffering from ‘phantom’ leg pains.
But now back fully fit, Hill has set his sights on returning to the Paralympic podium in northern Italy.
“When I won the globe, that was sick,” Hill explained. “But right at the end of the season I picked up a couple of crashes in a row that completely ripped off my shoulder.
“I had loads of issues with my leg and loads of phantom pains too. I had to have another surgery the next season afterwards. I basically spent that next season barely sleeping and constantly being electrocuted through the day and night.
“It would have been tough to live without snowboarding at that point. At least when I would ride it wouldn’t hurt. As soon as I got back and sat on a chair or finished for the day, it would start.
“That’s where a lot of the ups and downs came from. I’m happy just to be pain free from riding.
“Heading into these Games, I would love to do one better than I did. I’m still going to aim for golds. I’m still going to aim for podiums. I’m still going to aim for at least a silver. That’s what I would like to try and do. I’d really like to win a medal in boardercross. I’d be massively stoked with that.”
This Winter Paralympics will be vastly different to the previous edition in Beijing, which were hosted with the backdrop of rigorous COVID testing regimes for athletes and coaches, and no crowds being allowed to spectate.
The eight-hour time difference also meant European fans watched the action in the middle of the night.
This time around, Hill will be able to share his exploits with loved ones who are travelling to watch, something he’s looking forward to nearly as much as competing.
He added: “It’s great family and friends are coming, other people’s family and friends that I know are coming too which will be good for them. It’s going to feel a lot more like a real event rather than just TV cameras, media people and empty stands.
“I’m really stoked to have it in Europe and to have people that I care about able to come and see what we do, because it’s not very often they get to see it. It’s not like our stuff is televised week in, week out.
“This is the only time it gets televised, so people will be able to see it and appreciate it, which is cool.”
Discover Every Body Moves powered by Toyota, ParalympicsGB’s inclusive activity finder. Empowering disabled people to find ways to become more active locally or at home and inviting providers to promote more inclusive sessions across the UK. Find out more at everybodymoves.org.uk.
By Phil Campbell
