Barnes-Miller on a mission

Winter Paralympics

James Barnes-Miller says his days of soaking in the bigstage at the Paralympics are firmly behind him.

And the Tunbridge Wellsborn snowboarder reckons a more ruthless, medal-focused mentality can help propel him onto the podium in Beijing. Barnes-Miller is gunning to improve on his seventhplaced snowboard cross finish at PyeongChang 2018. The 32-year-old also finished 10th in the banked slalom event in South Korea but it’s the head-to-head nature of snowboard cross he considers his strongest suit. Barnes-Miller immersed himself in the Paralympic environment four years ago but believes a more battlehardened mindset can haul him up the standings.

“The Paralympic Games are a big show, there’s way more press and way more interest,” he said.

“I took that all in the first time. But now, I can just go in knowing what to expect and just focusing on the racing. “This time, I really want to get on the podium.” Barnes-Miller doesn’t like doing things the easy way. After his Paralympic debut in South Korea, he cracked his collarbone in three places. He suffered another serious shoulder injury just before Christmas but, after three medals at the World Para Snow Sports Championships in January, is in red-hot form. “It does take a lot, especially when you have a big fall or injury, to get back up and go again, added Barnes-Miller, who was born without a right hand. “You have to have something about you.”

The Games start tomorrow (Friday) and run until next Sunday.

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