Davy Zyw, The Paralympian!

Davy Zyw made history at the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympics, becoming the first winter athlete to compete with MND. He has described his journey to the Games as “a tragic beauty”, being his incurable condition, against all odds, leading him back to fulfil his childhood dream of professional snowboarding.

From the sidelines, Tommy and the family cheered him on with unwavering energy, joined by a travelling group of 40 friends. All wore bright blue knitted hats – many made at The Gallery – in a vibrant show of solidarity.

The competition was fierce, and Davy’s path to the start line was far from easy. Despite injuries sustained in training and during the event, including two broken ribs, he showed a warrior-like spirit, finishing 18th in both events among the world’s best para-athletes. We could not be prouder.

Davy’s story and strength has been represented across the press. For further reading you may like to visit articles in The Times, The Observer and BBC news.

Representing Team GB in snowboarding, Davy will compete in two events: Snowboard Cross on Saturday 7 March and Banked Slalom on 14 March, both in the UL (Upper Limb) category. Watch live on Channel 4 

Davy’s incredible hard work and dedication, on and off the slopes, has led to this extraordinary moment. The hours of training, the sacrifices, the time spent away, and the unwavering commitment have all built towards this achievement. We could not be prouder. While Davy is deeply honoured to represent Great Britain, he also carries something even more powerful with him. He stands as a flagbearer for the MND community, becoming the first ever Winter Paralympian to compete while living with MND. What an achievement. What a moment. We’ll be cheering him on every step of the way.

We have been desperate to share the news, but have had to wait until the official Team GB announcement on 24th February.

For the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics (March 6-15, 2026), Channel 4 is the exclusive UK broadcaster, providing over 60 hours of live coverage. Watch on Channel 4, 4seven, and the Channel 4 streaming service, with extensive action on the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel. Davy will be competing at Snowboard Cross on Saturday 7 March and Banked Slalom on 14 March, both in the UL (Upper Limb) category.

Tommy will be supporting Davy in Cortina, joined by a growing crowd of friends and family – 20 and counting! It’s set to be a very special show of support from the stands.

In true family spirit, Davy and Tommy’s mum and aunt, Jenny and Lesley Brown, have rallied a dedicated team of knitters to create the official handmade supporters’ hats. If you spot a bright blue hat, emblazoned with white ‘ZYW’, that’ll be us – cheering Davy all the way.

The Gallery is hosting a Knit-In on Friday 27 February from 10:30am–12pm. The Paralympic Pom-Pom Knit & Knatter is generously sponsored by Tommy and Davy’s brother’s coffee company, Carter Coffee. This informal and welcoming event is an opportunity for fellow knitters (and enthusiastic beginners!) to gather, create, and chat within The Gallery setting. Bring your own wool and needles. We’ll also be inviting donations in support of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, helping to raise funds and awareness for the MND community.

We’d love you to join us – needles at the ready.

Interested in making your own?! Find the pattern here.

Tommy Zyw’s twin brother, Davy, is attempting to secure a place at the upcoming Para Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina in March 2026. Last month, Tommy joined him in Kuhtai, Austria for the first race of the year. Davy delivered a spectacular performance, winning silver in one event and bronze in another. While it’s an incredible start, he still needs further top results to confirm his place, with qualification spots fiercely contested by an international field of elite athletes. The following week, Davy raced in Snowboard Cross in Lenk, Switzerland, and secured another bronze medal, securing him an overall bronze in the European Cup. With the qualification deadline fast approaching, only podium finishes will be enough to secure him a spot on Team GB’s Paralympic squad and, importantly, the chance to make history as the first athlete with MND to compete at a Winter Games.

At the beginning of February, Davy returned to competition in British Columbia, Canada, where he delivered another outstanding performance. In dramatic fashion, he secured two further silver medals with one race memorably delayed by an explosive crash on the final corner.

While these were hugely impressive results, gold narrowly eluded him. A win would have guaranteed automatic qualification for the Games in March. Instead, Team GB has submitted an application for a Bipartite (wildcard) place, which is currently under review by the FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) and the NPC (National Paralympic Committee). A decision is expected on Monday 16th February.

All fingers are firmly crossed. The stakes could not be higher.

Over the past season, Davy has already carved out a place in history, becoming the first winter athlete with MND ever to compete at international level. While competing at the Paralympics would be beyond even his boldest dreams, he can be immensely proud of what he has already achieved. His determination and resilience have been nothing short of extraordinary.

Follow his journey and support the cause at Ride for MND.

There are two snowboarding disciplines in the Paralympics. Davy is competing in both as he continues his push toward Milan/Cortina 2026.  Find out more here.

• Banked Slalom, where riders race against the clock through a series of high-banked turns.
• Snowboard Cross, where four riders go head-to-head down a course featuring jumps, drops, banked turns, and rollers.