Binding stymies Whyte

March 12, 2006

SESTRIERE, Italy -- Shauna Maria Whyte was in contention to win Canada's first medal at the Paralympic Games yesterday in the women's 10-km sitting biathlon when disaster struck.

The Hinton, Alta., native was in second place, with one set of targets remaining and a 2 km loop left to ski, when a binding broke on her ski-sled. The 38-year-old paraplegic's race ended with her crying in the snow.

"It was one of those moments when words don't cut it," said Whyte. "It was like a river of tears."