PyeongChang 2018 in Review: Alpine skiing

As the year draws to a close, it is the perfect time to take a look back at the biggest moments of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. We kick off a week of memories with alpine skiing, where new faces made their mark and favourites were surprised on the slopes of South Korea.

Fantastic Farkasova

Slovakian Henrieta Farkasova, guided by Natalia Subrtova, left South Korea as the most decorated Paralympian of the Games with a stunning four golds and one silver in the women’s vision impaired.

Farkasova won the downhill, super-G, super-combined and giant slalom races. But Great Britain´s Menna Fitzpatrick and guide Jennifer Kehoe spoiled their winning streak on the very last day to take a surprise gold in the slalom.

That final defeat brought the Slovakian to tears but does not take away from an outstanding Games in a season that she dominated from start to finish.

Bittersweet for Bauchet

France’s two-time world champion Arthur Bauchet ended his first Winter Paralympics with four medals – an impressive haul by anyone’s standards.

However, he could not snatch that elusive gold, having to settle for silver in the men’s standing slalom, downhill, super-G and super-combined.

He will most certainly be back in Beijing, China, in four years’ time hoping to take the next step and claim the coveted gold.

Unforgettable debut

Switzerland´s Theo Gmur was little known leading up to PyeongChang 2018, having previously only taken one silver at the 2017 World Championships. But all that would change at the Games.

At just 21 years old, Gmur enjoyed a spectacular first Paralympics by taking triple golds in the men’s downhill, super-G and giant slalom standing.

His rival Bauchet said: “He is very surprising because he starts with downhill, the speed discipline last year, and he comes here, it’s the Paralympics and it’s just magic. I am so happy for him.”

New generation

Many young faces burst onto the alpine skiing international scene at PyeongChang 2018.

In addition to Bauchet and Gmur, Netherlands’ Jeroen Kampschreur, Canada’s Mollie Jepsen and Norway’s Jesper Pedersen also shone on their Paralympic debuts – all three ending the Games as first-time Paralympic champions.

They will most likely be the dominant forces in their categories looking ahead to the 2019 World Championships and Beijing 2022.

Mollie magic

France’s Marie Bochet was confident of sweeping all her five events in the women´s standing. But the unexpected happened in the super-combined.

The French skier made an uncharacteristic error which put her out of medal contention. Her long-time rival Andrea Rothfuss of Germany could not make the most of it and instead it was Canadian 18-year-old Jepsen who capitalised to take her first Paralympic gold.

For more action from the Winter Paralympics, check out the PyeongChang 2018 website.