GOLD medal skier Kelly Gallagher has crashed out of today’s SC slalom event at the Winter Paralympics in Sochi.
The visually-impaired Co Down skier and guide Charlotte Evans were unable to add to Monday’s record triumph after Gallagher fell midway down the course.
The Bangor skier became Team GB’s first gold medal winner at a Winter Paralympics Games when she recorded a time of one minute, 28.72 seconds yesterday in the Super G in Sochi.
The 28-year-old and Evans were the first of six pairs to descend the course, and had to wait nervously to see if their time would be beaten.
Russian world champion Aleksandra Frantceva was expected to clock the fastest time, but she crashed out of the event allowing the pair to claim a record victory for Britain.
This was a dramatic comeback from Saturday's Downhill race in which they finished in last place, leaving Evans in tears.
On being declared gold medal winners Gallager paid tribute to Evans as they celebrated.
Kelly Gallagher (right) celebrating her gold medal win with guide Charlotte Evans"I'm delighted, it is so good to have such a great reward for all my and Charlotte's hard work," she said.
"I couldn't have done it without Charlotte's constant determination and talent. She's a star!
"It's been a difficult journey here and we are so happy to have had so much support from the very start."
Despite failing to finish today’s SC slalom event, Gallagher will need to regain her composure as she will be competing again on Wednesday morning in another slalom event.
Once the Games are over in Sochi a magnificent homecoming in Northern Ireland awaits Gallagher.
North Down councillor Brian Wilson has submitted a motion to council calling for the post box on the Rathmore Road in Bangor to be painted gold "in recognition of her unique achievement".
After the London 2012 Games the local post boxes of British gold medallists were painted gold.
Gallagher only began skiing at the age of 17 and is now one of the best in the world.
Her interest in skiing was sparked on a family visit to Lourdes, where during a drive through the Pyrenees towards Barcelona she became inspired to try the sport.
