Visually impaired skier Brian McKeever of Canada wins 2nd gold medal of Paralympics
By APThursday, March 18, 2010
Visually impaired skier wins more Paralympic gold
WHISTLER, British Columbia — Brian McKeever of Canada won his second gold medal of the Paralympics, the 10-kilometer classic cross-country race for the visually impaired.
McKeever, with brother Robin his guide, won in 26 minutes, 1.6 seconds on Thursday. Norway’s Helge Flo was second, followed by Russia’s Nikolay Polukhim.
McKeever credited his brother.
“He was able to excel at will, but I wasn’t able to follow,” he said. “It was hard for me to fight through when we were trying to go around another people. When it comes time to create these little bursts and make a move, I have a hard time doing it.”
McKeever won the 20-kilometer race Monday. Last month, he had been set to become the first winter sport athlete to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics, but the Canadian coaching staff decided not to start him in the 50-kilometer race.
The host country won two other gold medals Thursday, raising its total to six.
Alpine skier Lauren Woolstencroft won her third gold with a victory in the women’s standing downhill. Viviane Forest took the women’s downhill for the visually impaired. It was her third medal of the Paralympics but first gold.
