Sochi Paralympics: GB’s Aileen Neilson wants to be role model

Despite being the only female skip in Sochi, Neilson says she has noticed a change in the sport with more women getting involved.

“We all bring different elements to the game, but as skip I hope I bring leadership qualities and be as professional as I can and be a good role model, not just for my own team but for any curlers watching,” she says.

“I want to try to inspire other females, not only to participate, but to play in all positions where they might not feel comfortable to begin with, because that is how I started.

“At one competition recently there were two other female skips on the adjacent rinks, so certainly there are more females playing and in all positions which is great to see.”

Neilson, who suffered nerve damage to her legs after an operation as a toddler and used crutches before her condition deteriorated eight years ago, comes from a family of curlers but came to wheelchair curling after bringing her class of students to a session at the local ice rink and became hooked on the sport.

After Olympic silver and bronze medals for the Great Britain men and women curlers, the GB team of Neilson, Gregor Ewan, Rob McPherson, Jim Gault and reserve Angie Malone will be hoping to go one better.

The Canada opener is the first of a busy run of nine round-robin matches in six days before the medal play-offs.

The curling stones and rink are the same as the able-bodied game, but each player is supported by a team-mate as they deliver the stones with the help of a cue-like device, and the game is played by mixed gender teams over eight ends, rather than 10.

In a sport which can be decided on millimetres, spectators will notice one major difference between wheelchair curling and its Olympic equivalent – the lack of sweepers – meaning precision is the key to success.