Sunday, March 12, 2006 2:02:07 PM
Alpine Skiing: The Medals In the Sitting and Blind Downhill
US Laurie Stephens skies on her way to win a gold medal in the women's sitting skiing race at the Turin 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Sestriere, northern Italy, Sunday, March 12, 2006
Mar 12 2006
A very technical slope proved difficult for the Sitting and Blind category athletes competing this morning in the downhill race in Sestriere Borgata.
The limelight today went to the American team thanks to the two gold medals in the Sitting category gained by Kevin Bramble and Laurie Stephens, and the second place obtained by Christopher Devlin-Young among the Sitting athletes.
A good performance among the ladies was given by Silvia Parente among the Blind, the Italian coming third behind Austrian Sabine Gasteiger and French veteran Pascale Casanova. The happiness for this unexpected medal transpired from the words of the Italian athlete “I didn’t think I had a chance for the podium, I usually feel more at ease in the Super-G or Giant Slalom, because I am scared of the speed”.
And to confirm her words, guide Lorenzo Migliari said “Bronze? A real surprise. Let’s hope this result stimulates all the other Italians in the Paralympic team”. Parente’s result is even more valuable seeing as she was beaten by two real champs in the Blind category, in particular the winner Pascale Casanova, leader in the previous Salt Lake City 2002 and Nagano 1998 Paralympics, commenting this new affirmation “I came to Torino with my guide Benedicte Sainas to get heavy medals, let’s hope we win some more and have fun”.
Among the Blind men the Victory of German Gerd Gradwohl was clean cut, beating the Canadian Chris Williamson and Frenchman Nicolas Berejny; Italians just missed the podium with Gianmaria Dal Maistro and guide Tommaso Balasso coming only fifth. As said, in the Sitting category the US team is raking in medals, with Kevin Bramble and Christopher Devlin-Young, both satisfied with the race and track difficulty “This difficult track brought out my technical skills” explained Kevin, whilst his team mate added “A perfect track, a warm public, a fantastic resort: this is the best medal of my long career”.
A few hundredths behind Devlin-Young came French Denis Barbet, commenting “Third place is an indescribable joy, I knew I was fit, but not for a medal”. Best among the Italians is Fabrizio Zardini, with his eight place. Among the women, the second American victory was delivered by Laurie Stephens who beat order the Japanese Kuniko Obinata and Austrian Claudia Loesch.
Tomorrow, rendezvous with Alpine Skiing at 11 with the Super-G, Standing category.
Valentina Roberto
US Laurie Stephens skies on her way to win a gold medal in the women's sitting skiing race at the Turin 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Sestriere, northern Italy, Sunday, March 12, 2006
Mar 12 2006
A very technical slope proved difficult for the Sitting and Blind category athletes competing this morning in the downhill race in Sestriere Borgata.
The limelight today went to the American team thanks to the two gold medals in the Sitting category gained by Kevin Bramble and Laurie Stephens, and the second place obtained by Christopher Devlin-Young among the Sitting athletes.
A good performance among the ladies was given by Silvia Parente among the Blind, the Italian coming third behind Austrian Sabine Gasteiger and French veteran Pascale Casanova. The happiness for this unexpected medal transpired from the words of the Italian athlete “I didn’t think I had a chance for the podium, I usually feel more at ease in the Super-G or Giant Slalom, because I am scared of the speed”.
And to confirm her words, guide Lorenzo Migliari said “Bronze? A real surprise. Let’s hope this result stimulates all the other Italians in the Paralympic team”. Parente’s result is even more valuable seeing as she was beaten by two real champs in the Blind category, in particular the winner Pascale Casanova, leader in the previous Salt Lake City 2002 and Nagano 1998 Paralympics, commenting this new affirmation “I came to Torino with my guide Benedicte Sainas to get heavy medals, let’s hope we win some more and have fun”.
Among the Blind men the Victory of German Gerd Gradwohl was clean cut, beating the Canadian Chris Williamson and Frenchman Nicolas Berejny; Italians just missed the podium with Gianmaria Dal Maistro and guide Tommaso Balasso coming only fifth. As said, in the Sitting category the US team is raking in medals, with Kevin Bramble and Christopher Devlin-Young, both satisfied with the race and track difficulty “This difficult track brought out my technical skills” explained Kevin, whilst his team mate added “A perfect track, a warm public, a fantastic resort: this is the best medal of my long career”.
A few hundredths behind Devlin-Young came French Denis Barbet, commenting “Third place is an indescribable joy, I knew I was fit, but not for a medal”. Best among the Italians is Fabrizio Zardini, with his eight place. Among the women, the second American victory was delivered by Laurie Stephens who beat order the Japanese Kuniko Obinata and Austrian Claudia Loesch.
Tomorrow, rendezvous with Alpine Skiing at 11 with the Super-G, Standing category.
Valentina Roberto
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