Canadians Eriksson and Smith miss combined podium by 0.05 seconds

CORTINA, Italy – Kalle Eriksson and his guide Sierra Smith missed winning a third medal by a mere 0.05 seconds taking fourth spot in the men’s visually impaired Para alpine skiing competition on Tuesday.

Eriksson and Smith were second after the morning Super G and were fifth for the afternoon slalom to finish fourth overall with a combined time 1:57.51. 

‘’We’ re a little disappointed, being second after the Super G and coming out fourth is hard,’’ said Eriksson, 21, from Kimberley, B.C.  who joined forces with his guide in late 2022. ‘’I think we did a good job on the track today.

It’s just tough though, it hurts.’’

The pair still have the slalom and giant slalom later this week. The first-time Paralympians won the downhill silver on Saturday and the bronze in Super G Monday.

Italians Giacomo Bertagnolli and his guide Andrea Ravelli held on to top spot despite the third best slalom clocking 1:56.42. Neil Simpson and Rob Poth of Great Britain won the slalom to climb from fourth for the silver in 1:57.07. Double Games champions Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl of Austria were third in 1:57.46.

‘’This was only the second combined event in our life,’’ said Smith, a former women’s national team member from Ottawa. ‘’I’m happy with how we approached it, we had a good mindset going in and we are proud with how we showed up today.’’

In the women’s standing combined, one-pole racer Michaela Gosselin of Collingwood, Ont., was seventh overall. She raced to ninth in Super G and followed with seventh in the slalom to gain two spots in the final standings.

Gosselin is also racing all five events at the Games.

‘’Between races I’m just trying to prioritize rest, recovery, fueling and maintain my energy level,’’ said Gosselin, at her second Games. ‘’I will be either training or racing the next four days so really just focusing, warming up properly taking my time.

‘’ It’s a long haul but very exciting. It’s nice in these moment to have my friends and family here to help me recharge and think about something else.’’

Sit skier Kurt Oatway of Calgary, the downhill bronze medallist, did not finish his opening Super G.

Para alpine skiing resumes on Thursday with the women’s giant slalom.