Why is figure skating not at the 2026 Winter Paralympics?

Figure skating is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics, with skaters like Alysa Liu becoming global stars following their success at the Games.

However, the sport hasn't been a part of this year's Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina. Figure skating has yet to be officially sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee, and has never featured on the Paralympic programme.

Dan Rodenby is a development officer at British Ice Skating and works on the organisation's Let's Skate programme, which is designed to help people with a disability get involved in skating, both on and off the ice. He explains to Lee James why recognition of figure skating by the International Paralympic Committee would be hugely significant for those looking to get involved in the sport.

Among those advocating for its inclusion is the former figure skater Rhiannon Parker-Nicholls. She became ill as a teenager and suffered multiple strokes aged 19, which have led to her living with long-term health issues. She tells Emma Tracey from Access All - the BBC's disability news and mental health podcast - why she's seeking a return to skating and what the sport can do to help get people like her involved again.

Emma Tracey also speaks to Margarita Sweeney-Baird, the founder and chair of Inclusive Skating - a charity designed to help skaters with disabilities to participate in the sport. Her hope is that we see figure skating at the Winter Paralympics in 2038.

Access All is the BBC's weekly podcast about disability news, mental health and wellbeing for listeners all over the world. Search for BBC Access All wherever you get your podcasts.

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