University of Stirling skier to compete in world competitions
Scott Meenagh set for the Para Biathlon World Cup and World Championships
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University of Stirling Para Nordic skier Scott Meenagh will compete in two major international events in the coming weeks – the Para Biathlon World Cup and Para Biathlon World Championships.
The 35-year-old sports scholar – who has competed at the past two Winter Paralympics – will travel to Val Di Fiemme in Italy for the World Cup, a test event ahead of next year’s Paralympics, running 27-30 January, before competing at the World Championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia between 4 and 9 February.
Looking ahead to the competitions, Scott, from Cumbernauld, 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. We will head from there to Slovenia, where we will have this year’s World Championships.
“I am really excited to be back racing a full World Cup calendar after last season being 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, Scott lost both his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan at the age of 21. Following his rehabilitation, Scott competed in rowing at an international level – captaining the British Army team at the 2014 Invictus Games. He was inspired to take up Para Nordic skiing while spectating at the Winter Paralympics in Sochi 2014 – and, two years later, he joined the Armed Forces Para Snow Sports Team.
On being selected for the 2018 Winter Paralympics in South Korea, he became the first British Nordic skier to compete at a Paralympics for 20 years. He competed at the 2022 Paralympics in Beijing – securing his best-ever Paralympic result with sixth in the long-distance biathlon – and, a year later, became the first British athlete to win a Para Nordic World Championship medal when he took silver in the 12.5km individual biathlon.
Scott returned to education through the Open University in 2017 and is now on the International Sports Scholarship Programme at Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. He is in his fourth year studying History and receives additional support through the national sports scholarship programme Winning Students 100.
Scott has recently participated in Universities Scotland’s 40 Faces campaign, to promote accessing university through non-traditional routes.