Battling Cancer, Defying Odds, and Chasing Paralympic Gold
The realisation that my life was at risk hit me harder than I ever expected. The potential for this diagnosis to be life-ending was something I hadn't truly considered until that moment, and it left me utterly shocked.
Jo Butterfield was preparing for her second season as a wheelchair curler when she received devastating news: in September 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The discovery came swiftly—within weeks of finding a lump, she was launched into an intensive treatment regimen, including a 16-week course of chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy and surgery.
Despite her history of overcoming adversity, the impact of cancer treatment took a toll on the 2016 Paralympic club throw champion. The grueling process left her exhausted, vulnerable to infections, and facing an emotional and physical battle unlike anything before. But through it all, she credits her mindset as an elite athlete for keeping her focused and determined to push forward.
Butterfield was no stranger to life-altering challenges. Twelve years earlier, she had been left paralysed from the waist down following surgery to remove a spinal tumour. Yet, despite that life-changing moment, she recalls facing it with a sense of practicality: "This has happened, I can't change it, but I'm still here. So let's get on with it and make life brilliant." Her approach was one of resilience and adaptation. But cancer, she admits, brought a fear she hadn't encountered before.
"I have some innate strength and resilience, but this one knocked me harder than ever," Butterfield tells BBC Sport. "The spinal injury was life-changing, but I handled it pragmatically. Breast cancer was different. It was scarier. The uncertainty was overwhelming."
She credits her family, friends, and teammates for being her anchor throughout the ordeal. Their unwavering support reminded her that she wasn’t alone in the fight. "This was an eye-opener that I am not invincible. None of us know what tomorrow holds, but as long as there’s a struggle and a fight, I have a tomorrow. So I choose to live every day fully, because nothing is guaranteed."
Even as she undergoes immunotherapy, Butterfield is looking ahead with optimism. With the Wheelchair Curling World Championships set to begin in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, she is in what she calls "a good place" both mentally and physically. The competition is not only a significant milestone in her return to the sport but also a crucial opportunity for her Scotland team to secure qualification points for next year’s Winter Paralympics.
Training with the Scottish squad in Stirling throughout her treatment was a source of motivation for the Yorkshire-born athlete. "Being able to come to the training center once a week gave me something to focus on other than cancer. Here, I was 'Jo the athlete.' We joked, we trained, we competed. It was a space where I could just be me, not a cancer patient."
The upcoming World Championships are Scotland’s last chance to earn points for Paralympic qualification. Butterfield will be competing alongside Sochi bronze medallist Gregor Ewan, as well as Paralympians Hugh Nibloe and Gary Smith, with debutant Austin McKenzie completing the team. Meanwhile, England’s squad, led by Stewart Pimblett, will feature Karen Aspey, Julian Mattison, and Jason Kean. The competition will bring together some of the world's best teams, including Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United States. Round-robin matches will continue until March 6—exactly one year before the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina—followed by play-offs and semi-finals on March 7, with the final on March 8.
The championships will be followed by the mixed doubles event from March 11-16, a discipline making its Paralympic debut next year. While Scotland’s team event is in a strong position for qualification, the mixed doubles duo of Nibloe and Charlotte McKenna will need a strong performance to secure their place.
For Butterfield, simply competing at the World Championships again feels like a victory. "It almost feels like a gold medal in itself," she says. But her ambitions remain high—winning Paralympic gold in Italy is still the ultimate goal.
"There has been a speed bump, and it derailed things for a while, but I’m back on track. I am working hard every day to make it happen, and as a team, we’re coming together really well. I feel good. I feel strong. My strength is returning every day, and I feel healthy."
She reflects on the journey that brought her to this point, acknowledging how close she came to losing it all. "I feel hugely fortunate to be sitting here today because I had an eye-opener that this might not have been possible. So now, I just want to cherish every moment, enjoy the experience, and make the most of every opportunity."
For Jo Butterfield, the fight continues—on and off the ice. And as she sets her sights on Milan-Cortina, one thing is clear: she is determined to make history once again.