Snowboarder aims to be ‘beacon of hope’ for MND as Paralympic dream comes true

A Scottish snowboarder hopes to become a “beacon of hope” after being announced as the first snowsports athlete with MND to compete in the Winter Paralympics.

Davy Zyw will join the ParalympicsGB team sheet for the Milano Cortina Games in March, the culmination of a dream he has held for years.

The 38-year-old, from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with MND in 2018. The degenerative nature of the condition means many people do not live further than two or three years post-diagnosis.

He had previously been a competitive snowboarder but a knee injury brought his career to an end.

The father of one refused to let MND hold him back and has been training to compete in the Winter Paralympics.

The neurological condition affects his hands, arms and torso. He also faces severe fatigue, cramping, muscle wastage and loss of dexterity.

He told Press Association he is “over the moon” to be joining ParalympicsGB and could scarcely describe his joy when his bipartite application was successful.

He said: “It’s been an ambition of mine for years to get into the Paralympics and I’ve invested so much time, emotion and energy into this dream. To have it confirmed – I mean I’m beyond words.”

Davy and his twin brother Tommy grew up snowboarding around Edinburgh, making use of the dry slope at Hillend as well as travelling abroad.

Tommy will be accompanying him to Cortina.

Davy says that his MND means he needs to take extra care around any falls or accidents on the slopes.

He said: “My approach is, basically, don’t fall.

“I’ve got a very little cushion, very little muscle in my upper body now.

“I learned the hard way when I fell in Patagonia and shattered my shoulder blade.”

MND is “the most evil disease you can imagine”, he said, as it slowly strips away the body’s functions.

There is currently no cure for the condition, which progressively damages the nervous system and causes muscle weakness.

Davy, who has been active with Doddy Weir’s foundation, wants to raise awareness of MND and boost chances of finding a cure.

He said: “The reality is, I’m one of the lucky ones – am I lucky to get diagnosed at 30? No.

“But most people with the disease, they’re dead two or three years post-diagnosis.

“And here I am, seven years on. Just having fought for a place in the Paralympic Games.”

The 38-year-old says he is keeping a level head about his chances at the games and mainly wants to “get down in one piece”.

He said: “If I can try and raise awareness for the condition and be a beacon of hope about what people can do and what they can live with with the condition – then that’s exactly what I’m trying to achieve.”

The snowboarder is unsure what the disease will mean for him in future but is keeping a hopeful outlook, saying: “Keeping a full life, keeping positive, keeping healthy, drinking good wine and going fast on my snowboard is the best tonic I’ve had”.

Outside of snowboarding, Davy is a sommelier and wine buyer, having published a book on sparkling wine.

He said: “I’m already curating a bit of a selection of Italian wines to have after I finish racing.

“Right now I need to keep on the straight and narrow.”

The snowboarder received support from MND charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

CEO Nicola Roseman said: “Congratulations to Davy on qualifying for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics. Having seen the dedication, courage and hard work he has put into this goal, this achievement is truly well earned.

“Becoming the first person with MND to compete in snowsports at a Paralympic Games is historic. Davy has refused to let his diagnosis define him, showing what determination and belief can achieve.

“His qualification will mean a great deal to the wider MND community. For people living with the disease and their families, it brings visibility, pride and hope.

“While not everyone can compete at this level, everyone deserves progress towards effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Davy’s journey is a powerful reminder of why continued investment in research matters so much.”