Ex-Army sergeant Steve Arnold ready to banish PyeongChang demons at Winter Paralympics

Steve Arnold knows he may only get one shot at Paralympic service and the former Army sergeant is determined to make it count.

Evergreen Arnold, 42, only started Para Nordic skiing five years ago after losing both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan in April 2011.

Scaling the Games heights in 2018 came too soon but four years later, Arnold’s place in ParalympicsGB’s team for Beijing 2022 is secure.

Arnold will be one of the older members in Britain’s 25-strong contingent and admits a long-term desire to banish those PyeongChang demons helped book his seat on the plane.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Arnold, one of over 1,000 athletes able to train full-time, access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support thanks to vital National Lottery funding.

“A massive amount of hard work has gone into this. I just missed out in 2018 – came into the sport too late and needed to do too much to get there, so I’ve had so much drive and determination to compete and get there this time.

“At the time, just missing out it was very disappointing. I found it tough for the first couple of months after but looking back, I probably wasn’t ready. Four years more of training was definitely what I needed.

“I’m not getting any younger, I’m 42-years-old and didn’t start this sport until I was 37. Most people are thinking about retiring then, rather than getting to their first Paralympic Games.

“I’ve put a lot into it, and it will probably be my one and only chance. We’ll see what happens after this one – but I just can’t wait to get out there.

“It’s going to be the biggest event I’ve ever done – it probably will be my one and only Games so I want to put my best results out there.”

Arnol