Beijing 2022: Super-G disappointment for Jack Gower

Ireland's Jack Gower suffered Beijing Winter Olympics disappointment in the men's Super-G on Tuesday morning as he joined a long list of DNFs in Yangqing.

The 27-year-old was the only Team Ireland athlete in action in the morning session of day four of the Games and had been targeting a top-20 finish.

However, in tough conditions he failed to finish after going through a panel halfway down the course.

"It’s hard to put in words today," Gower said afterwards. "This is my event and the event I was performing well in and had high hopes for.

"I’m pretty disappointed right now, pretty deflated, and that’s the way it goes. Super-G is challenging and technical... especially at the Olympics you have to push and push. But I just didn’t get it right and obviously went through that panel. On the bright side I’m all good and so I can race again."

The Super-G is a speed event which combines the speed of the downhill with technical turns similar to the Giant Slalom. The spacing between the gates allows the speed to build, while a total vertical drop of 645 metres over a distance of 2,267 metres also contributes to the competitor's speed.

The list of 13 DNFs on the course included Monday's Olympic champion in the downhill Beat Feuz [Switzerland].

Gower added: "In the speed events there’s always some back and forth on the mental side. You’ve got to prepare yourself to take every risk you can and put all the other thoughts of injury and everything outside your head.

"It’s always a mental challenge in these two events, the speed events, when injuries are so prevalent. It’s a constant battle on that side, but that goes with the ground."

He will now switch his focus to the next event on his schedule, the Alpine Combined, which takes place on