March 11, 2002
Slam Sports

Woolstencroft wins gold in Super G

SALT LAKE CITY (CP) -- Lauren Woolstencroft had a lot her mind as she stood at the gate before her Super-G run Monday at the Paralympic Games.

On the first day of the Games, the Victoria native crashed during her run in the downhill, twisting her knee. She was carted off on a stretcher.

She had no such problems Monday, as the 20-year-old erased her earlier disappointment with a gold-medal run of one minute 18.12 seconds.

"When I was in the gate I told myself to forget about the crash, forget about the disappointment and just go for it," she said. "I don't really remember much of the run. I was just going for it and it felt pretty fast.

"It was really ragged but you know, I made it down. I may have been a little tentative but it felt good."

She was joined on the podium by Karolina Wisniewska of Calgary, who took the bronze. Sandwiched between the Canadians was Mary Riddell of the United States.

Woolstencroft has had plenty of success on the World Cup circuit.

She was first in both the downhill and Super G at the 2001 World Cup in the U.S. She also distinguished herself by winning downhill, giant slalom and slalom events at the 2000 world championships in Switzerland.

Despite picking up her second medal of these Games, Wisniewska was disappointed in her run Monday.

"I had problems with the course today," she said. "When I crossed the line I knew it wasn't a good race. I didn't feel I skied my best. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so though I'm happy for Lauren, I'm not happy with my race."

Wisniewska will race in the slalom and giant slalom -- her best races -- later this week.

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