Strong performance adds up to historic gold for Gallagher
University of Bath graduate Kelly Gallagher made a piece of history today (Monday) by winning Britain’s first gold medal at a Paralympic Winter Games.
Gallagher, who graduated from the University with a Mathematics degree in 2006, took gold in the visually impaired Alpine Skiing Super G event at the Sochi Games with guide Charlotte Evans.
Their medals were Britain’s first gold medals on the snow at either the Paralympic or Olympic Winter Games.
Gallagher, representing ParalympicsGB at her second Olympic Winter Games, said: “I’m delighted, it is so good to have such a great reward for all my and Charlotte’s hard work. I couldn’t have done it without Charlotte’s constant determination and talent. She’s a star!
“Today has proven to me that hard work and self-belief really does pay-off,” she added. “I’m so delighted to be part of such a unique and historical moment for British Paralympic sport and I can’t wait to more disabled skiers out on the mountain now.”
Their gold this morning came after the disappointment of finishing sixth in the downhill event on Friday.
There was also a bronze medal for GB team-mates Jade Etherington and Caroline Powell today.
Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission, said: “This is an historic day – not just ParalympicsGB’s first gold in the Winter Games but our first gold on snow in either the Olympic or Paralympic Games. Kelly and Charlotte proved what world class athletes they are to come back after the disappointment of the Downhill and are absolutely buzzing now.”
Gallagher and Evans return to action tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Super Combined competition.
For more information about Kelly Gallagher and the challenges visually impaired athletes face in skiing competitions, go to http://www.teambath.com/2014/03/04/all-downhill-for-kelly-%E2%80%93-with-a-little-help-from-her-guide/
You can follow the progress of the ParalympicsGB team in Sochi on the British Paralympic Association’s Sochi microsite at http://sochi.paralympics.org.uk/
For further information about Team Bath please contact the press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518.
