11 March 2018
Double delight as ParalympicsGB take super-G silver and bronze
Double delight for Great Britain
Disbelief was the overriding emotion for Millie Knight on day two of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games as she and Brett Wild sealed a sensational double by adding super-G silver to yesterday’s downhill equivalent.
And the medals didn’t stop there for ParalympicsGB with Menna Fitzpatrick and Jennifer Kehoe hot on their heels to claim the bronze at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre.
After a flying start in yesterday’s downhill, Knight admitted that she had to battle the nerves as she and Wild were first out of the gate in the super-G.
Together they clocked 1:33.76 and then the waiting began. Fitzpatrick and Kehoe were next out of the blocks but were just shy of their teammates - crossing in 1:34.54.
The Brits then watched on as Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova and Natalia Subrtova, third out, snatched first-place with a stunning run of 1:30.17.
Millie Knight on her way down the course
Disbelief for Knight
And the order remained the same for the rest of the competition with Sochi 2014 champion Kelly Gallagher last to go but unable to retain her title – 1:39.75 leaving her and Gary Smith in eighth.
“I can’t believe that this has happened again,” said Knight. “It’s amazing it really is. I was quite nervous in the start gate today, a little bit more so than yesterday and to get that result is fantastic.
“Last night and this morning I was really relaxed, I think it really took a lot of pressure off so it meant that I slept really well and was in a really great place to race.
“But for some reason my head always gets a bit carried away and makes me nervous.
“If I’d thought I would have two medals in two days I would have said you are crazy. This time four years ago I was sat in the crowd watching Kelly (Gallagher) win gold.
“I was just over the moon and I thought if I could just one day be that good then that would be amazing.”
Menna Fitzpatrick on her bronze-medal winning run
We just had a cup of tea and a chat
Tea is the key
For Fitzpatrick and Kehoe a cup of tea was the remedy as they bounced back from disappointment in the downhill to claim a medal on their Paralympic Games debuts.
“After yesterday we just had a cup of tea and a chat with our sport psychologist who just helped us to think about all of the positives that we have had from this season and the success that we have had,” said Kehoe.
“It was about knowing we can do it and just getting on the hill and doing it and not try and do anything clever or special.
“It’s been amazing to get over that finish line and I can’t tell you how happy I am to do that.”