FORMER KES PUPIL, HESTER POOLE, SELECTED FOR THE 2026 WINTER PARALYMPICS
King Edward’s School (KES), Bath is immensely proud to celebrate the selection of former pupil, Hester Poole, for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, where she will compete for ParalympicsGB in the Visually Impaired Para Alpine events.
Hester, 18, who left KES last summer, will take to the slopes in Italy in March, racing Slalom and Giant Slalom alongside her guide, Ali Hall, marking her debut appearance on the world’s biggest para sport stage. Her selection was confirmed this week, with ParalympicsGB announcing that Hester will join teenage athletes Dom Allen and Sam Cozens as part of an exciting next generation of British para skiers.
Hester first began skiing on the dry slope at Mendip at just six years old, progressing rapidly through grassroots racing and making her international debut at 12, originally guided by her brother, Benjie, who also attended KES. She earned her place on the national pathway through GB Snowsport, where she rose through the ranks of the Para Alpine Development Squad to the World Cup circuit.
Alongside her sporting success, Hester has also excelled academically; following her straight A* grades at A Level, she has recently accepted a place at the University of Cambridge to study English, reflecting her impressive all round talent and commitment.
Speaking following the announcement, Hester said:
“I am thrilled to announce that I have been selected to represent Great Britain in the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. I want to thank KES for playing such a huge role in my journey.
“Making sacrifices is an inevitable part of reaching the pinnacle of sport, but KES made certain that I would never have to compromise on my education. So it is a massive thank you to all my teachers - who received, and had to read, scribbled, half finished essay plans in place of the essays they had asked for; who showed unwavering belief in me, even when I couldn’t; who pushed me to achieve academically, in the classroom, on the slopes, and occasionally in the gondola.
“It may be true that it takes a village to raise a child; it certainly takes a school to send a student to the Paralympic Games!”
Headmaster, Martin Boden, offered warm congratulations, saying:
“We are absolutely thrilled for Hester, whose amazing achievements embody the very best of King Edward’s School. Her determination and talent in her sport have always been evident, and her commitment to excellence both in and out of the classroom has always been inspiring. To see her now representing her country on the Paralympic stage, alongside her remarkable academic success, is a truly extraordinary accomplishment. The entire KES community is immensely proud of her, and we will be cheering her on every step of the way in Cortina.”
We wish Hester and guide Ali Hall the very best as they prepare for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.
You can follow Hester and Ali's progress via the ParalympicGB Instagram page, here:
