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Auckland Paralympian Sue Walker (B2 class),
27, and her ski guide Dave Gardiner, 29,
missed out on a medal in the Women's Super G
at the 1998 WInter Paralympics in Nagano,
Japan, yesterday evening (NZ time).
The pair finished fourth for the second
time in the Paralympic competitions. Walker
and Gardiner were pipped at the post in the
Downhill event three days ago. Walker has
been partially sighted since birth. She
says, "I'm a little disappointed we missed
out on third place as we were so close." She
was not familiar with her competition, as
this is her first Paralympics. She remains
optimistic about their chances for the
upcoming events. "Dave and I are pleased to
see we are up there with the best."
Cantabrian Rachael Battersby, 19, also
missed out on a medal at her first
Paralympics event, yesterday. She came 10th
in the Women's Stand-up class Super G, but
was pleased with her run. "I had known my
competition before I got here and knew it
would be hard going, but I'm pleased with my
personal performance." Battersby had her
paralysed arm amputated last year in order
to ski better. She says she is enjoying both
the racing and the atmosphere of her first
Paralympics.
The next race for the New Zealand women
is the Giant Slalom on the 12th March.
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