A snowboarder from Edinburgh will make history next month by becoming the first man with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) to compete in a Winter Paralympics.
Davy Zyw, 38, has been named in the ParalympicsGB squad to travel to Italy in a world’s first for a snowsport athlete.
The USA’s Cathy Cummins, who also suffered from the disease, was named as an alternate for America’s curling team for the Winter Paralympics in 2014, but never actually took part on the ice.
Zyw’s own condition, which has a life expectancy of two to three years from the point of diagnosis, has already reduced his ability to do simple tasks such as zipping up his jacket and even putting on his gloves. But he has now exceeded all expectations by securing recent podium success in Switzerland and Austria, as well as taking part in World Cup races in Canada.
Zyw, who is not a full-time athlete, only decided to put himself in for the Games in the winter of 2024. A conversation with his twin brother Tommy over dinner set the wheels in motion.
Since then, he has forged ahead through crowdfunding and the support of his employer Berry Bros & Rudd, with the aim of raising global awareness of MND.
Davy Zyw has qualified for the Winter Paralympics and is set to make history by competing
Zyw has Motor Neuron Disease (MND) and will be the first man with the condition to compete in the Winter Paralympics
The wine merchant, who was diagnosed with the condition when he was 30 years old, will take part in the upper limb category in snowboard’s banked slalom and boardercross events, in a world and ParalympicsGB first.
He told Daily Mail Sport that he was still ‘trying to get his head around’ being selected, but admitted it was a ‘dream come true’, and a result of ‘pushing through the impossible’.
‘I was 30 when I got the diagnosis and in my prime,’ he said. ‘It was a life-shattering experience and I suppose it has allowed me to have a lot more focus, a lot more clarity about what I do and don’t want to do in life.
‘Spending time with my family, first and foremost, raising awareness for MND, and riding my snowboard, are all on the podium of how I want to spend my time.
‘When you’re given the life-changing news, I think being in that dark place is challenging. Everything looks impossible.
‘What I found helpful for me is, when you’re given the impossible news, the “you’re going to be dead in a couple of years” sort of news, there’s almost a freedom in there, because if you’re living in the impossible, you can do anything.
‘And that’s the mantra I’ve pushed through, looking through the impossible, setting a goal and just going for it 100 per cent.
‘The only thing in your control in life is your attitude towards it, and that’s something I learned very early on in my diagnosis. I’m going to lose the best days, the best minutes, hours of my life, if I wallow and I sulk. I need to crack on, be positive, and try as much fun as possible, and so far, so good.’
David Clark, Chief Executive of Paralympics GB, told Daily Mail Sport that Zyw’s inclusion was ‘really, really special’, insisting he was sure the snowboarder would ‘knock it out the park’ in Cortina.
‘It’s an amazing thing when any athlete gets chosen for a Paralympics,’ said Clark. ‘But for Davy to do it through the process he has done it, with special conditions attached to it, is really really special.
‘We couldn’t be prouder to have him as part of the team and it takes our team size to one of the biggest we’ve ever had, if not the biggest. We are so chuffed he’s on the team and we know he’s going to knock it out of the park when he gets to Cortina.’
ParalympicsGB has a medal target set by UK Sport of two to five medals, and Smith says he’s confident there are plenty of athletes who are ready and willing to challenge for podium places.
It’s set to be a special moment for Zyw, who is inspiring others with his achievements and positive attitude
Whether Zyw will himself be able to achieve that remains to be seen, but just being selected, he says, has made the pain, the sacrifice and the commitment, worth every second of it.
‘I’ve put all my chips, all my emotion, into this,’ said Zyw.
‘I’ve been through injury, I’ve travelled a time away from my family, it’s been a huge investment on every level for me this last year.
‘There’s the relief, the jubilation, the joy of actually being confirmed as part of this amazing community, this amazing team to represent Great Britain, but also every soul living with motor neuron disease and neurological conditions on a global stage, you know, my cup is full. However, I’ve got a job to do now.
‘I’ve got no expectations to get a medal, I’m just happy to be at the party. What I’m focusing on is the stuff in my control and that’s being 100 per cent ready, in the right headspace, in the right frame of mind, in the right physical state to do my best when I can at the races.
‘My competition I’m against, these guys are inspiring, they are so talented and I’m just happy to be in the mix.’
