Beijing Winter Paralympics: Neil Simpson wins Great Britain’s first gold medal in Super-G ski event

Neil Simpson has won the UK’s first gold medal of the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics after racing to victory in the men’s Super-G vision impaired class event.

Neil, 19, who was guided by his brother Andrew, 21, took 1.08.91 to reach the finish line.

The brothers, from Banchory, Scotland, who are making their Paralympics debut, finished 0.40 seconds ahead of Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli.

The Simpson brothers also made British sporting history with the victory, which is Britain’s first male gold medal on snow at an Olympic or Paralympic Games, Paralympics GB said.

Neil said: “I am just really thrilled, it’s not really sunk in yet. This is our first season doing Super-G. Initially, when we came down and Andrew said we had gone into first place, there was a bit of an anxious wait.

“I wasn’t thinking about it being a winning performance, I was just thinking that it was a good run. We put it all down on the line and really went for it and I’m just very happy with the performance – it felt good.

“There was a sketchy moment coming into the bowl but we knew we needed to get back on it and really went for it down the bowl, so I’m really happy with that.”

The brothers, who have been skiing together since they were children, finished seventh in Saturday’s opening downhill.

Neil said it was “very special” to win with his sibling.

He added: “For me it definitely helps having Andrew with me, you are able to be very clear and concise in what you want – even direct and blunt sometimes, so you can get feedback across a lot easier.

“You don’t have to beat around the bush so that definitely helps, we grew up together so we know what each other is thinking anyway.”

Andrew said he was “absolutely delighted” by the victory.

Great Britain’s