Etherington wins downhill silver for GB

By Nick Hope BBC Paralympic sports reporter in Sochi

Britain's Jade Etherington has won silver in the women's visually impaired downhill on the first day of action at the Winter Paralympics in Sochi.

The 22-year-old from Lincoln and her guide Caroline Powell - who are making their Games debut - clocked one minute 34.28 seconds at Rosa Khutor.

They finished 2.73 seconds behind Slovakia's Henrieta Farkasova and her guide Natalia Subrtova.

Britain's other competitor, Kelly Gallagher, finished in sixth place.

Born: 9 March, 1991 in Lincoln

Events: Visually impaired slalom, giant slalom, Super-G, downhill

Joins the British Disabled Ski Team's Development Squad in 2009

Wins a bronze medal in the Super-G at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships.

Takes silver in the Super-G at the Paralympic Test Event in Sochi

Wins first World Cup event in January 2014 with two downhill gold medals in Tignes.

Claims silver in the downhill event at the Sochi Winter Paralympics

There was drama at the end of the race when Etherington, who is the first British woman to win a Winter Paralympic medal on the snow, crashed into the hoardings after she crossed the line but, after a few anxious moments, she got back onto her feet.

"We're really happy and I am delighted with the silver medal, I don't think it's sunk in yet," she told BBC Sport.

"We knew going down that it was a solid run, despite my little jump and crash at the end, but I think I was just pleased to get down and it is great to have that confidence boost for the rest of the competition.

"We've had so much support from everyone, especially our parents and family, and we just want to thank them."

Gallagher has vowed to bounce back in Monday's Super-G - the second of her five events at Sochi 2014.

"Every day we go out to win and we certainly didn't today but that's the way ski-racing goes sometimes," she said. "We still have four more races to come back stronger.

"I'm so excited for Jade - winning a silver medal at the Paralympics is so great for our sport."

It is Britain's first Winter Paralympic medal since the wheelchair curlers won silver at the Turin Games in 2006 and a first skiing medal since 1994.

Britain's other competitor on the slopes on Saturday, sit-skier Anna Turney, fell during her downhill run.

"Physically I'm alright. I will be sore tomorrow but I haven't hurt myself which is a big relief," she told BBC Sport afterwards.

"The course is really bumpy and the conditions are pretty tough. I landed on a bit of an edge and bounced. I was going for it and the end of the day that's all you can do."

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