BRITAIN’S Sean Rose was disappointed not to finish the course in the men’s Super-Combined event at the Winter Paralympics today.
Rose crashed early in the race, the result of icy conditions.
“I really went out for it,” he said. “I gave it my best, but from the first gate I was sliding sideways and realised it was really icy so I decided just to get stuck in.
“I knew there were really good guys in the field and that they would be going for it, so I knew I had to too.
“I came into a turn and thought I could make it but it was icy and it slipped away. After I skied down the rest of the course, I thought the way I was going I would have bitten the dust at some point. My plan was to come here and prove a point but unfortunately I didn’t make it.”
The result is a disappointment for Rose, who had made no secret of his hopes for a podium place: “I didn’t come here to finished in the top ten, I came here to win a medal.
“It’s not all negative. I’m not going away with the satisfaction of a medal, but I have had the satisfaction of knowing I came best prepared with the best support staff. The races didn’t go my way, but if they had I think I could have medalled. I have had a great season when I look back and I’m really looking for to next year’s World Championships in Sestriere.”
Rose has not ruled out competing in Sochi in four year’s time.
“Never say never,” he said. “I love the sport, I love the support I get. The sport is a real rollercoaster with high and lows. The highs are amazing and life-changing but I just wish I could have brought a medal back for GB for all the people who have helped me along the way.”
The gold medal was won by Japan ’s Taiki Morii, who a silver medallist at the 2009 World Championships in this event, in a time of 1:20.62.
The race was the final event featuring a British competitor in the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
Results for Saturday March 20 (featuring GB athletes only):
For full results see http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/schedule—results/
Alpine Skiing (top ten plus British competitors)
Men’s Super-Combined – sitting
1 Japan MORII Taiki 1:20.62
2 Korea HAN Sang-Min 1:22.86
3 Austria BONADIMANN Philipp 1:23.04
4 USA CALHOUN Heath 1:23.66
5 Germany BRAXENTHALER Martin1:23.82
6 USA DEVLIN-YOUNG Christopher 1:24.01
7 France MORE Cyril 1:24.25
8 Japan SUZUKI Takeshi 1:25.06
9 Australia DALLAS Shannon 1:25.21
10 Austria EGLE Jurgen 1:25.43
DNF ROSE Sean GBR
