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Gregor Ewan: How the Scottish wheelchair curler changed his life

Ewan (second from right) celebrates Paralympic bronze with his GB teammates in Sochi 2014

After his second participation in his second Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang in 2018, the Scottish wheelchair curler Gregor Ewan was at a crossroads.

He had won a bronze medal with Great Britain four years earlier in Sochi, but left South Korea empty-handed after finishing seventh in the round robin phases and the non-qualifier for the knockout phase.

Then came the devastating blow that Ewan was removed from the Scottish squad – and the thought of international competition seemed a long way off.

But the 50-year-old has changed his life, removed eight stones and taken control of his pain management.

Ewan is also aiming to take part in a third Paralympic in the same location in March.

“The dropping was the bum kick I needed,” admitted Ewan, who became a wheelchair user at 35 after years of lifting heavy stones and bricks on construction sites, causing a curve his spine and eventually led to a spinal coll -se.

“I took a close look at myself and my health – and one of the first things was the medication I took.

“I was struggling with severe back pain and gradually increased my pill dose because I wasn’t getting enough pain relief.

“It made me forget things. I can’t remember any conversations I had with my wife because I was drugged and it went mad.

“I had to do something because I felt like my head was racking. I went to Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow and learned tips and tricks to help me gradually reduce the dosage, which took about six months.”

Ewan’s actions and the new clarity they brought with them helped him fully understand how he had treated his body for many years.

Shopping on the high street for the 4 and 5 XL clothes he wore to fit his frame became nearly impossible, and his next step was to shed some of his nearly 150 pounds.

By eating three regulated meals a day and fasting from 6 p.m. until breakfast the next morning, he watched the pounds fade away and a new man emerge.

Gregor Ewan in March 2018 and October 2021Ewan has changed his frame since the 2018 Winter Paralympics

“I had to stop when I was 15 and a half stone because it affected the skin on my bum and I started seeing the signs of sores,” he added. “But I managed to keep my weight there. It’s then about letting my body catch up and not pushing it too far. Even now I pay attention to what I eat.

“If you want it hard enough, you will. There are a lot of groups out there and videos that can help you. I smoked years ago and you will quit when you are ready, not when others want it. You are. You are. You are.” the only person who can fix it. “

To get back into the international standings, Ewan drove himself off the ice in the gym with strength and cardio training, game analysis and tactics.

It all paid off when he returned to the Scottish squad in June 2020, but they had to deal immediately with the impact of the pandemic on the sport before returning to the ice late last year.

He will now compete alongside his Pyeongchang Paralympian Hugh Nibloe as well as David Melrose, Charlotte McKenna and Meggan Dawson-Farrell in Beijing – the last chance for teams to collect Paralympics qualification points.

The Scots open their campaign against Norway on Saturday, starting a busy period of 11 round robin games in six days before the semi-finals on October 29 and the medal games the following day.

Together with his new attitude towards life, Ewan benefits from his changed  -pearance.

“My stone delivery is better because I don’t fall on my stomach as much. My stomach made me get lazy in my chair,” he said.

“Now I fall more on my side and use my muscles more effectively. It also means that I have the stone under control for a few more seconds, which may not sound like much, but it made a difference.

“I feel more comfortable playing like this than I did two years ago.”

Two big tournaments within six months are a new challenge for all 12 teams. But while the lack of international competition affects everyone, Ewan and his teammates used the time to work on their stamina at the gym and focus on getting the right punch at the right time on the ice.

“We got together really well as a squad,” said Ewan. “I’ve never played internationally with David, Charlotte or Meggan, but we work well together as a squad and you can see that in training sessions in the gym, for example, where we support and push each other forward.

“However, we all have to show up from the beginning of the competition. In the past we started tournaments slowly and at a World Cup you have to perform in the first two days to have a chance. You can drop a game.” about that time, but no more. “

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