(ATR) Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans won the women’s super G visually impaired class, earning Great Britain its first ever Winter Paralympics gold medal.
Gallagher, 28, following Evans down the Rosa Khutor piste while taking audio cues clocked a time of 1:28.72, 0.22 seconds faster than a Russian duo to claim victory.
"It was nerve-wracking but I'm delighted with the result," Gallagher told BBC Sport.
"I have to thank Charlotte for getting me to the line. We just threw ourselves at it," said Gallagher about the historic victory. "I prayed for the strength to ski and have fun."
International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven, a British IOC member was moved to comment on the victory: "I’m not supposed to be biased as the president of the IPC, and of course I’m not, but I’m very, very happy."
Great Britain has won three medals in three days, exceeding TeamGB's pre-Games expectation of two medals.
In other alpine ski racing events, French sensation Marie Bochet raced to her second gold medal of the Games in the women’s standing super-G, while Germany’s Anna Schaffelhuber did the same in the sitting classification.
In cross-country skiing at the Laura venue across the valley from Rosa Khutor, Canadian Brian McKeever won the men’s 20km visually impaired class. Along with his guide Erik Carleton, the duo finished in 52:37.1, more than a minute faster than their nearest Russian challengers.
Russiancross-country skier Rushan Minnegulov won the men’s 20km sitting event.
The hosts have a commanding lead in the medals table, with 21 total medals, including six gold. Ukraine is second with six medals including two golds. Japan is currentlyt third with five total and two gold.
Commemorative Pucks and Stamps
International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel returned to Sochi to officially receive the two pucks from the recent Olympic gold medal contests from Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak.
The pucks from Canada’s victories over Sweden in the men’s final and over the USA in the ladies final will be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada.
Also Monday, Kozak joined Craven and head of Russia’s Federal Communications Agency Igor Chursin, taking part in a cancelling of the stamps ceremony where commemorative postage stamps were unveiled.
The three stamps, commemorating Russia’s first ever Paralympic Winter Games, depict the medals awarded in Sochi (gold, silver, bronze).
Ice Sledge Hockey Thrills Fans
Those who have ventured to Sochi’s Shaybe Arena have been impressed with the physicality and fast-paced sport of ice sledge hockey.
With each of the eight men’s ice sledge hockey teams having played two games at Shayba Arena, Canada leads Group A with a 2-0 record, while the U.S. is top of Group B, also being undefeated.
Canada have been dominant outscoring opponents 14-1, while the U.S. have an 8-1 advantage in their two victories.
Although there were no games played on Monday, ice sledge hockey resumes on Tuesday with four contests, including the U.S. versus Russian and Canada taking on Czech Republic.
Written by Brian Pinelli in Sochi.
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