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Jesper Pedersen dedicates Beijing gold to late father
Norwegian claims second Winter Paralympic title in the super-combined sitting 07 Mar 2022
Jesper Pedersen remembered his late-father as he claimed his second gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games on the third day of competition (7 March) at the Yangqing National Alpine Skiing Centre.
The Norwegian 22-year-old, who won the men's super combined sitting, has photos of his dad Bjorn stuck to the top of his sit ski.
"It's me and my dad. He's been probably the most influential part of how I am here now. It's just good to be able to have him with me all the time," said of his father, who passed away in November 2020 at age 51 after a heart attack.
In January 2022, Pedersen won downhill World Championships gold in Lillehammer, Norway. Back then, he said: "He (his father) can take a large part of the credit for that win. I would not be where I am today without him. The gold is in his honour.
"I have him with me in my mind all the time. And I have a picture of him. Dad first took me skiing when I was two years old."
Pedersen now holds super-G and slalom golds, and downhill silver in Beijing. "It's been pretty wild, it's just amazing to be able to do it (and be) on top again," he said.
He is also hoping his achievements can help promote the sport further. "I hope we can show people around the world how cool Para Alpine Skiing is.
"Of course we want more people to try it because it's such an amazing thing to not be locked in a wheelchair but to be up in the mountains and have fun.
"The (2022) World Championships have been a big boost in Norway, and I hope the Beijing Paralympics will (do) the same around the world."
Anna-Lena Forster captured eluded gold
After winning two silver medals in Beijing, the German finally sealed her third Paralympic title after ending first in the women's super combined sitting.
She said: "Crazy. I can't imagine that it happened now. I'm so happy and I have to think about it for some time now to realise it.
"I focused on slalom because that's my discipline and I tried to get a free mind and that worked. It's crazy and I'm super happy.
"It's cool for me because there is the slalom. The super-G is always difficult for me, but I know I can do a lot in slalom."
Other winners of the day include Slovakia's Henrieta Farkasova, guided by Michal Cerven, in the women's vision impaired and France's Arthur Bauchet in the men's standing, both of whom claimed their second gold on Chinese soil.
Italy's Giacomo Bertagnolli and guide Andrea Ravilla in the men's vision impaired, and Sweden's Ebba Aarsjoe in the women's standing reached the top of the podium for the first time on day 3.
