Sochi ‘career highlight’ for Dundee man

DUNDEE’S GREGOR Ewan admits he is entering unknown territory as he prepares to make his Paralympic debut as part of Great Britain’s wheelchair curling team in Sochi.

But he is relieved to have two veterans with him in the form of team-mates Tom Killin andA ileen Neilson.

While both Ewan and Bob McPherson will be making their Paralympic debuts in Sochi in March, Killin will compete at his fifth games, winning curling silver at Turin 2006, and Neilson her second.

Neilson helped the team finish sixth at Vancouver 2010 and Ewan admits that with his comparative inexperience he’ll be picking the brains of his team-mates throughout in Russia.

“Being picked for Sochi is the highlight of my career,” he said

“Other than being a father or getting married it’s up there. When I first found out I was over the moon. I tried so hard to make it in 2010 but I had only been curling for maybe a year.

“I understood not being selected as the team then had been together for maybe three of four years.

“It’s my first games but we’re really lucky that we’ve got Tom Killin, A ngie Malone and A ileen Neilson, who have been to Vancouver and two of them were in Turin as well.

They have that knowledge and experience of what to expect and what may happen at certain times. It’s invaluable getting that information from someone that you know.”

The British team have quickly gelled since coming together as a rink last year, and competing as Team Scotland at last year’s World Championships in Sochi.

There they finished sixth but Ewan is confident the British team are playing their way in to their best form just in time for Sochi. “We’ve just finished the British Open and we managed to get to the final against Finland and we came second,” he said.

“But this year we have been in six finals and won three silvers and three golds so it’s not bad going. Hopefully that has put us in the right mind frame to go out to Sochi with that final on our mind.”

Sainsbury’s is a proud long-term supporter of the British Paralympic Association and a champion of inclusive sport for all. For more information on Sainsbury’s commitment to inclusive sport visit: www.Sainsburys.co.uk/ activekids

Getty. Gregor Ewan is off to Sochi as part of the British wheelchair curling team.