Simpson prepares for Winter Paralympics with podium finish

Simpson prepares for Winter Paralympics with podium finish

GB Snowsport

Winter Olympic gold medallist Neil Simpson secured his first World Cup podium finish since 2024 by finishing third in the men’s downhill Para-alpine (vision impaired) event in Saalbach, Austria.

The Briton – with his guide and brother, Andrew Simpson – clocked a time of 58.07 seconds to earn a first podium finish of the season, and his first career downhill podium.

Scotland’s Simpson, 24, finished 3.10 seconds behind gold medallist Johannes Aigner of Austria, who pipped Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli to top spot by just 0.11 seconds.

“This is a great result for Neil and Andrew in their first World Cup downhill of the season,” said Pat Sharples, Great Britain’s Snowsport head coach.

“We couldn’t have asked for better conditions which is always a huge bonus when athletes are competing in speed disciplines. [I’m] super proud of the whole team who’ve done a fantastic job.”

Simpson’s last World Cup podium finish came in December 2024, when he won the giant slalom event in Courchevel.

He won gold in the Super-G at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing as well as bronze in the super-combined events.

He was appointed an MBE in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to skiing.

Related topics

  • Winter Sports
  • Disability Sport

Source: BBC

234Radio

234Radio is Africa's Premium Internet Radio that seeks to export Africa to the rest of the world.