Michaela Gosselin cracks top 10 in women’s giant slalom at Paralympic Winter Games

CORTINA, Italy – Michaela Gosselin of Collingwood, Ont., competing in all five events at the Paralympic Winter Games, climbed to eighth place with a strong second run Thursday in the women’s standing giant slalom.

Ebba Aarsjoe of Sweden earned her third gold of the Games with a combined two-run time of 2:22.42. Varvara Voronchikhina of Russia took the silver in the 2:25.26 and Aurélie Richard of France claimed bronze in 2:27.04.

Gosselin was 10^th after her first run then clocked the eighth fastest time in the second to move to eighth overall. She now has four top 10’s at the Games including fifth in downhill.

‘’I’ve been struggling with GS this season, so I went in there with the mindset I had nothing to lose,’’ said Gosselin, at her second Paralympics. ‘’The snow was challenging, especially on the second run but I would have liked to do a bit better.’’

Florence Carrier of Magog, Que., Team Canada’s youngest member at 18, made her Paralympic debut and also climbed the standings with a better second run. She was 16^th after the first run, then delivered the 13^th fastest second run for 14^th overall.

‘’I was battling nerves going in and I wasn’t sure what to expect,’’ said Carrier. ‘’All I knew is that it was big, there was going to be a lot of people and a lot of noise. Today I showed my capabilities and that the work paid off and it was all worth it.’’

Competition continues Friday with the men’s giant slalom.