Kirsty Van der Poll Set to Make History at First Women’s Para-Ice Hockey World Championships
Kirsty Van der Poll is no stranger to breaking boundaries. From Para-athletics and wheelchair basketball to surfing – and now Para-ice hockey – the 24-year-old Welsh athlete has embraced every sporting challenge thrown her way, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and versatility.
Van der Poll’s journey began on the track, where she first discovered her passion for sport. Born with talipes, commonly known as clubfoot, she faced challenges in able-bodied sports early in life. “I was a really sporty kid growing up,” she explained. “But I started struggling a bit because some of the tendons in my Achilles and foot did not form properly. Watching Para-athletics on TV opened my eyes – I saw other people like me competing and achieving at a high level, and that inspired me to get involved.”
Success came quickly. Van der Poll captained Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 2019 World Para-athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland, claiming two silver medals as a T44 sprinter and long-jumper. Later that year, she made her senior debut at the World Championships in Italy. Her early achievements hinted at a bright future, but university life brought new challenges. Experiencing increasing pain in her leg, she made the life-changing decision to have it amputated in 2022.
“Deciding to have your leg amputated is never easy,” she said. “But if I can’t stand or walk normally, what’s the worst that can happen? I spoke it through with doctors and ultimately found peace with it. Sport has always been the constant for me, and I knew I could continue pushing myself in other ways.”
Following surgery, Van der Poll quickly adapted to new challenges. She re-learned to surf during a holiday to South Africa and Australia and, less than a year after her amputation, competed at the 2023 ISA World Para-surfing Championships in Huntington Beach, California, finishing fourth. But with limited opportunities to surf in the Midlands, she turned her focus to ice hockey – a sport she had long wanted to try.
Her determination has now propelled her to history: Van der Poll has been selected as a forward in Great Britain’s 12-strong squad for the inaugural Women’s Para-Ice Hockey World Championships, set to take place in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia, from 26 to 31 August. The six-team tournament features the USA, Australia, Canada, Norway, and Team World, marking a major milestone for the sport and its pathway toward inclusion in future Paralympic Winter Games.
“It’s very different going from sunny beaches to a cold ice rink,” Van der Poll admitted, “but ice hockey has been on my radar for a while. Having the chance to play in the first Women’s World Championships is an incredible opportunity to show what female athletes can do and shape the future of the sport.”
Great Britain face Canada and Team World in Group B, with the group winners advancing to face the runners-up from the opposite group in the semi-finals. Van der Poll’s story is one of resilience, patience, and embracing opportunity. From overcoming a career-altering disability to mastering multiple sports at elite levels, she exemplifies determination and the power of sport to transform lives.
“Now that we have our own division and World Championships for women’s Para-ice hockey, it feels really important to showcase what female athletes can do,” she said. “I’m a big advocate for getting involved and making the most of every opportunity. This is a chance to inspire others and show what’s possible.”
Kirsty Van der Poll is ready not just to compete, but to make history – a trailblazer on and off the ice.
