Patrick after Lillehammer gold

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 527, 15 March 1994, Page 1

Patrick after Lillehammer gold

Waimarino disabled skier Patrick Cooper is chasing gold at the Paralympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Patrick 24, a member of the New Zealand i Disabled Ski Team, was unlucky to miss a gate in his first event - the men's downhill - on the ' weekend. Until his upset, he was a hot favourite to pick up the gold medal for the event. His second event, the Super G, was run last night, New Zealand time. No results were available at the time the Bulletin went to print. A full

report will feature in next week's editioh. Patrick, a below-the-knee amputee who has won two golds and a silver medal at previous paralympics, was reported to be disappointed with his performance in the downhill. "I was very eager but I just wasn't steady enough on my skis", he said. He and other competitors were affected by the organisers' decision not to hold a practice run before the event. He will get the opportunity to redeem himself

in the giant slalom (Thursday) and the slalom (Saturday). Other team members have had varying degrees of success. Partially sighted skier Joanne Duffy of Eketahuna won a gold medal in the womens downhill on Friday, and a bronze in the super G yesterday. Patrick and other members of the NZ Disabled Ski Team trained in South America for 10 weeks before the Paralympics, in preparation for the event.