Menna Fitzpatrick was thrilled to receive a gold medal in the women’s slalom event in the World Para Snow Sports Championships in Lillehammer, Norway. Going into the slalom as the defending Paralympic champion, Menna managed a third place after Run 1 and improved on her second run to overtake Austria’s Elina Stary in the standings. Her gold was assured once Run 1 leader Barbara Aigner caught on a pole and tumbled.
Initially scheduled to take place in Lillehammer, in February 2021, the competition was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It marks the first time that the Para Biathlon, Para Alpine, Para Cross-Country and Para Snowboard World Championships are held in a single host nation.
Menna said “Today was an epic day! Katie and I won our first world championship title. Over the last few months and weeks has been a journey like no other. It’s had its ups and downs and some scary moments too but that’s one of the reason I love this sport. Today it all came together and we put down two great runs. So proud and massive thank you to Katie Guest for being there on the down days to lift me up and for being there for these moments as well and not forgetting the actually guiding part as well!”
Skiing with new guide Katie Guest, Menna earlier received a silver in the super combined. Fellow Get Kids Going! athlete Millie Knight and her guide Brett Wild received a Gold in that event.
A total of 852 athletes from 42 nations are competing at Lillehammer 2021. This includes 140 Para snowboarders.
“We put in two really really good runs today and we’re super happy that we’ve become world champions in slalom,” Menna said.
“With changing the guide we had to really get to know each other and how each other works under pressure. Every race is a step towards where we want to be and our goal is to be ready for Beijing.”
Menna’s win follows hot on the heels of Get Kids Going! supported athlete James Barnes-Miller who received a Silver medal at Lillehammer in snowboarding.
Here’s hoping Millie, Menna and James’ successes spur them on for even more medals. Plus we hope that all of our athletes get selected for the Winter Paralympics team.