Kelly sixth on Paralympic Games debut
University of Bath graduate Kelly Gallagher secured a sixth place finish in the women’s visually-impaired slalom on her Paralympic Games debut at Vancouver 2010 yesterday (Sunday).
The 25-year-old Mathematics graduate, currently living in Bangor, County Down, is now looking forward to her preferred event, the giant slalom, on Tuesday. Eighth after her first run, she climbed a couple of places with a stronger second run.
“I’m immensely proud. We were secretly hoping for top five but the first run I was really nervous so I felt really proud after my second run,” said Gallagher. “It was really good coming into the finish area knowing that I‘d finished two runs and I hadn‘t fallen.
“Slalom isn’t my best event, I find I can’t really enjoy it. I get nervous because the gates are so small and I can’t really see them. I’m looking forward to the GS.”
Talan Skeels-Piggins, who does some of his land-based training at the University of Bath, also made his Paralympic Games debut yesterday, finishing 31st in the men’s sitting slalom. He also returns to action in the giant slalom on Tuesday.
Both Gallagher and Skeels-Piggins are members of the ParalympicsGB team competing at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games.
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