Wigan's Karen Aspey is aiming for wheelchair curling glory!
A gruelling schedule of international travel and long drives to Scotland has finally paid off for Wigan’s Karen Aspey, who will compete in wheelchair curling at the Winter Paralympics.
The 57-year-old is set to become one of the first English curlers to represent Paralympics GB, as she prepares to join Hugh Nibloe, Austin McKenzie, Stewart Pimblett and Graeme Stewart in Milano Cortina.
Aspey first discovered the sport after the COVID pandemic through British Curling’s Paralympic Performance Pathway before making her international debut in 2023.
Over the years, she endured four-hour journeys to training alongside the demands of frequent international travel for competition.
“We've been travelling a lot, and you're constantly on the go,” she said. “Just recently, we've had Canada and Norway. It's extremely tiring at the World Championships, because we have travelled backwards and forwards as well.
“One night I got in at 12 o'clock, and then I had to be up the morning after to play again. It's hard, it's a lot of pressure but it's all been worth it. Italy will be a lot easier than what we've been doing, as we'll actually be based nearby.”
Aspey previously played wheelchair basketball, having also tried weightlifting, but none have come close to her curling achievements.
The Wigan-born athlete has already competed in two World Championships and is ready to take that experience to Italy, which will mark a rare appearance of an English curler in the ParalympicsGB line-up.
She will also draw inspiration from her recent meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who visited a training camp in January.
“Four of us were from England at the World Championships," she added. “Truthfully, I didn't think it was going to happen. It doesn't really feel like we’re making history, but I suppose we are in a way.
“It's amazing, really exciting. I still haven't got my head around it, to be honest. I didn't think I'd be selected. The team dynamics are pretty good. We're all getting on well and having a laugh together. We want a medal and that would be gold by the way!”
Away from the ice, Aspey finds great joy in gardening and loves growing cauliflowers, though balancing the hobby with intense training has become very challenging.
ParalympicsGB's mixed curling team will begin their Paralympic Games campaign on March 7 at 9.35 am as they take on Slovakia in their first round-robin match, before playing Japan and the USA on the same day.
Discover Every Body Moves powered by Toyota, ParalympicsGB’s inclusive activity finder. Empowering disabled people to find ways to become more active locally or at home and inviting providers to promote more inclusive sessions across the UK. Find out more at everybodymoves.org.uk.