Local Schoolboy Competes as Team GB’s Youngest Paralympian at Winter Games

St Andrews Schoolboy to Become Team GB’s Youngest Paralympian

Sixteen-year-old local St Andrews schoolboy Dominic Allen is competing on one of sport’s biggest stages, heading to Milan, Italy for the Winter Paralympic Games. He will compete in the Alpine Skiing category.

Allen is Britain’s youngest Paralympian at this year’s Games in Milano Cortina. A student at St Leonards School in St Andrews, the alpine skier is competing in both the slalom and giant slalom events after earning his place on the Paralympic GB team earlier this season.

The alpine skier was born without part of his left hand and competes in the LW6/8-2 standing classification, a category designed for athletes with upper-limb impairments who use only one ski pole. 

Speaking about his selection to The Courier, Allen explained that the opportunity still feels surreal. “I didn’t think I was going to get to the Games in this Paralympic cycle,” he said. He acknowledged that being the youngest athlete in the team brings a certain level of pressure. While representing Paralympics GB is a major milestone, he understood the importance of his role in the team as he is “representing the next generation of racers coming through,” and emphasises that it is, in fact, not about the medals. Despite his nerves, Allen hopes his participation will inspire others with disabilities to get involved in winter sports. 

His selection has already gathered excitement at St Leonards School, where staff and pupils gathered to celebrate his achievement ahead of his departure for Italy. Allen joked that the attention has made him something of a campus “celebrity,” he told The Courier. 

St Leonard’s Headteacher Simon Brian praised Allen’s achievement and the dedication that has brought him to where he is today: “We are beyond proud of Dominic’s selection for the Paralympics GB team.”

Photo Provided By St Leonard's School