Highlights from PyeongChang today:
• Gold medal for Adam Hall in PyeongChang
• New Zealand Paralympic Team have won 1 gold and 2 bronze medals
Adam Hall has won a gold medal in the Men’s Slalom Standing almost exactly eight years to the day since he won a gold medal in this same discipline at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
The world no 8 easily beat world no 3 Arthur Bauchet of France in silver by 0.39sec and world no 4 Jamie Stanton of the USA in bronze by 1.26sec, after these two men entered the final a split second ahead of Hall after Run 1 earlier today. Hall entered Run 2, which is added to Run 1 to create a combined final time, in third equal with Australian Mitchell Gourley. Gourley finished in 6th place.
Hall chocked back the tears as he said: “I don’t know what to say. I still can’t believe it. Thank you to New Zealand, this has been an eight year journey to be back on top of the Paralympic podium. And after what happened in Vancouver I really felt like the whole country was behind me. They have supported me ever since.“
“When I came across the finish line on that second run, I had nothing left and I was so happy with it. I came down there and boy I was in the zone. It’s about following the processes and not thinking the prize is in the pocket. I was so gassed, mentally exhausted. It has just come down to who could adapt to the conditions out there the quickest.
“We had a plan and the plan worked and now we are here. It is going to take a while to sink in. A huge thank you to all of New Zealand. To my supporters, everyone that has been behind me the whole way. Obviously everyone that is here supporting me – my wife Elitsa, sister in law, aunty and uncle, everybody. The coverage we have been getting back home has been remarkable and to be able to get that exposure and to showcase everything that we do day in and day out. This really is what I do any other week on a World Cup circuit. But so much more special as kiwis get to see this.“
This gold medal tops off a spectacular week for the veteran Paralympic skier, after he won a bronze in the Men’s Super Combined on Tuesday and yesterday, was announced as the male Paralympian winner of the prestigious Whang Yuon Dai Achievement Award. This award is presented to only one male and one female Paralympian at each Paralympic Games, chosen as the athletes that best exemplify the spirit of the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic values. Hall will be presented with a 75 gram pure gold medal during the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony tomorrow night.
This latest medal is New Zealand’s 31st winter Paralympic medal, made up of 16 gold, 6 silver and 9 bronze medals. It is the country’s 221st Paralympic medal across the winter and summer Games.
The New Zealand Paralympic Games Team have not won multiple medals since the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games.
Today’s result concludes the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games for New Zealand. The team has delivered a series of stunning performances across the past 8 days and will return home triumphant, with a bronze from Corey Peters in the Men’s Downhill Sitting, a bronze from Adam Hall in the Men’s Super Combined Standing and gold in the Men’s Slalom Standing and several spectacular Top 10s, including a great 5th place for Carl Murphy in Men’s Snowboard Banked Slalom yesterday.
Note – The medal ceremony for Adam and his gold medal at approximately 11.12pm NZT this evening. Watch live on TVNZ Duke.
WHAT’S ON TOMORROW
• The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony takes place Sunday 18 March. Adam Hall will be presented with the Whang Yuon Dai Achievement Award. This is the first time a New Zealander has ever won this Award and as acknowledgement of his outstanding achievement he will receive a 75 gram pure gold medal at the Closing ceremony on Sunday 18 March.
• This is presented to only one male and one female Paralympian at each Paralympic Games who best exemplify the spirit of the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic values.
• Sunday 18 March, 12.00am NZT onwards on TVNZ Duke.
