Jo Butterfield's Historic Paralympic Ambition After Cancer Battle
British Paralympic star Jo Butterfield is pursuing an unprecedented sporting achievement, aiming to secure gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. This remarkable goal follows her inspiring recovery from breast cancer and a recent debut at the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina.
Winter Games Debut and Future Plans
At the age of 46, Butterfield made her first appearance at a Winter Paralympics, partnering with Jason Kean in the wheelchair curling mixed doubles event. The duo finished in fifth place, a result that has only strengthened Butterfield's determination to excel in both Paralympic seasons.
Butterfield, who previously won the F51 club throw gold medal at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics, now stands as a strong contender to become the first British athlete to achieve gold in both summer and winter competitions. With her summer discipline reinstated in the Paralympic programme, she aspires to compete at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles before reuniting with Kean for the 2030 Winter Paralympics in the French Alps.
"My plan is to try and do both in the next cycle," Butterfield told Press Association Sport. "It should be easy to balance. I think curling are massively supportive, athletics is individual so it's a little bit easier to fit in around the team sport. Hopefully it will work but we'll find out."Overcoming Adversity and Health Challenges
Butterfield's journey back to elite sport has been marked by significant hurdles. She shifted her focus to curling in 2022 after her athletics event was removed from the Paris 2024 schedule. Shortly after, in 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, adding to the challenges she has faced since becoming paralysed from the chest down in 2011 following surgery to remove a spinal tumour.
Reflecting on her recovery, Butterfield shared, "It was two years ago I got the all-clear but the two years before that if someone said to me that you would be at Milan-Cortina, I don't know if I ever really believed it. I was going day by day thinking, 'am I even going to be here next week?' almost, never mind at a Paralympic Games."
Perspective on Milan-Cortina Performance
Despite the fifth-place finish in Milan-Cortina, Butterfield views her participation as a major triumph. "You have to put things in perspective a little bit and it wasn't the result we wanted but on a bigger picture, there's been so much achievement just to be there, just to be back where I want to be. I don't take that lightly," she explained.
The partnership with Kean, formed just four months before the Games, saw them recover from losing their initial two matches to win three of the next four. Their hopes for a semi-final spot were ended by a narrow 11-10 defeat to hosts Italy.
"It was within grasp and that's what's really frustrating and really annoying because it's quite an open competition," Butterfield said. "To be able to get that semi-final, I think we had a really good shout at getting that gold medal."
Unwavering Ambition and Team Spirit
Butterfield's ambition for gold remains as strong as ever. "When I started in athletics it was about trying to get a gold medal in Rio, and I was successful in that one. When I started in curling that was still the goal and the dream and that's not gone away – it's probably been more enlightened, if anything," she stated.
She emphasised the special bond with her curling partner, adding, "Me and Jay, it's been so special and to win it for myself is brilliant but to actually win it with him would be even more special."
Dedication and Future Outlook
Originally from Doncaster and now living in Glasgow, Butterfield was supported by her wife Rhiannon at the Games. Demonstrating her unwavering commitment, she plans to spend her 47th birthday on Thursday training.
"Me and Jason turned around to each other and said, 'can we just go again now'?" she revealed. "And I think if we went again now, the experience of the last week would probably be the difference. You can fast-track a lot of things but you can't fast-track experience. We were a bit like rabbits in the headlights at the start, and I think that's probably what cost us in the end."
Butterfield's story is a testament to resilience, as she continues to chase Paralympic history while inspiring others with her perseverance and dedication to sport.
