Neil Simpson put in the performance of his life to win Great Britain’s first gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics.
The 19-year-old Scottish skier, guided by his brother Andrew, clinched Paralympic gold in the men’s visually-impaired super-G event by finishing nearly half a second clear of the field.
“We went in with a clear game plan and it worked out pretty well," said the delighted teenager. "We put it all down on the line and really went for it and I’m just very happy with the performance - it felt good.
“I could tell it was quick but I didn’t know how special it was. I’m just really thrilled, it’s not really sunk in yet.
"Initially when we came down, there was a bit of an anxious wait. I wasn’t thinking about it being a winning performance, I was just thinking that it was a good run.
“Andrew was shouting and screaming. I said, ‘Yeah, maybe a podium’. It’s just that wait. It’s such a high - it’s almost indescribable.”
Winter Paralympics medal table
Country |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
|
1 |
China |
6 |
4 |
6 |
16 |
2 |
Ukraine |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
Japan |
2 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
Slovakia |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
Austria |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
Canada |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
France |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
Great Britain |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
