Paralympics Day 9: Nordic and Men’s Alpine programmes bring Games to a close

The 2022 Paralympic Winter Games reached their conclusion with a final showing in the Men’s Slalom and the Cross-Country Open Relay

Neil Simpson‘s superb debut Games came to an end alongside guide Andrew Simpson, with a ninth-place finish in the Men’s VI Slalom. A difficult first run saw the pair in 11th place at the turn, but the third fastest second run in the field saw them claw back time and places to finish up in the top-10 once again. For the pair it was another encouraging performance in a Games that will be remembered for their Gold and Bronze medal showings earlier in the programme, and which saw them named as ParalympicsGB Flag Bearers for the Closing Ceremony of the Games.

James Whitley’s own outstanding Games also saw him bank another top-10 finish, coming eighth in the Standing Slalom. In difficult conditions that saw a significant proportion of the fied unable to finish, Whitley’s time of 1:42.59 left him less than 2s behind seventh spot, and just 9.38s outside of the podium places.

YANQING, CHINA – MARCH 13: James Whitley competes in the Para Alpine Skiing Men’s Slalom Standing during day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics at Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre on March 13, 2022 in Yanqing, China. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Alex Slegg and Dan Sheen were also back on the slopes for the final event of their debut Games in the Sitting Slalom, with Sheen posting a DNF on the second leg after coming into the turn in 25th spot, while Slegg was disqualified on his second run having sat in 18th spot after the first.

YANQING, CHINA – MARCH 13: Alex Slegg competes in the Para Alpine Skiing Men’s Slalom Sitting during day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics at Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre on March 13, 2022 in Yanqing, China. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

In the Cross-Country, the Men’s squad of Steve Arnold, Callum Deboys, Scott Meenagh, and Steve Thomas came in at the rear of the pack with a 12th place finish in the 4 x 2.5km Open Relay. The event concludes a remarkable programme for the Nordic squad which saw Paralympic Nordic debuts for Arnold, Deboys, Thomas and, in the women’s programme, Hope Gordon, a streak of career-best results for Meenagh and, for Arnold, an incredible two events under his belt having only received clearance to compete deep into the Games after a covid infection threatened to derail his entire competition.

ZHANGJIAKOU, CHINA – MARCH 13: Steve Thomas competes in the Para Cross-Country Open 4×2.5km Relay during day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics at Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre on March 13, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Header Image: YANQING, CHINA – MARCH 13: Neil Simpson competes in the Para Alpine Skiing Men’s Slalom Vision Impaired during day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics at Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre on March 13, 2022 in Yanqing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)