Press Releases

PARALYMPICS: DUECK AND FOREST EARN TWO SILVER MEDALS FOR CANADA IN SLALOM

15 March 2010
 WHISTLER, BC (March 14, 2010) – Canada came away with two silver medals on the opening day of medal competition at the alpine venue of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Whistler, BC.
Viviane Forest (Edmonton, AB), a double Paralympic gold medalist in the summer sport of goalball, finished second in the visually impaired slalom. Forest, making her Paralympic Winter Games debut along with guide Lindsay Debou (Whistler, BC), placed second in a two-run combined time of two minutes 01.45 seconds.
 “I’m really happy to have this medal,” said Forest, the IPC Crystal Globe winner in slalom the past two seasons. “I’m not really realizing it yet, this is very special. Especially since it is happening in Canada.”
 Sabine Gasteiger of Austria won gold, finishing in 2:00.56.
 Josh Dueck (Vernon, BC) collected Canada’s second silver medal of the day, finishing in second place behind IPC world slalom champion Martin Braxenthaler from Germany.
 Dueck is the first Canadian male sit-skier to medal at the Parlaympic Winter Games since Scott Patterson and Daniel Wesley in the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. Dueck finished in a two-run combined time of 1:46.29.
 “I had a couple of good downhill results last year and that really boosted the confidence. And I think that my success has to do with the team and all the support that they have put into it. Own the Podium has provided the resources for us to have an advantage on the other nations,” said Dueck, who was actually fourth after the first run.
 “As soon as I saw that I was on the podium, that was it that was the moment where I lost my marbles. Regardless of gold, silver or bronze, I am on the podium and that is the best feeling that I could have ever hoped for,” added Dueck.
 Braxenthaler finished in a winning time of 1:41.63.
 Christopher Williamson (Markham, ON) and his guide Nick Brush (Panorama, BC) finished in sixth in the men’s visually impaired category. It was Jakub Krako of Slovakia taking the gold in 1:45.82.
 The men and ladies standing category will race slalom tomorrow.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is a non-profit, private organisation with 43 member sports organisations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement.  The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for the Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and ParaPanAmerican Games.  By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organisations.  For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.
 
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 INFORMATION:
Sophie Pilon
Media Attaché, Para-Alpine
Canadian Paralympic Committee
C: 403-815-7340

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