Sandrine Hamel was full of confidence on Friday when she thought about tomorrow’s snowboard cross team event at the Para Snowboard World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway. The Quebecer was right to believe it, she and her partner Lisa Dejong climbed on the top step of the podium on Saturday.
Posted at 1:39 p.m.
“I’m so happy, with Lisa [Dejong], we are used to competing against each other, but it’s special to work together on the same team. There is something unique about being able to win with a teammate,” rejoiced Hamel, in an interview with Sportcom.
The Canadians finished the race in 1 minute 8.09 seconds, beating the Dutch (+3.39 seconds) and the Swiss (+7.16 seconds) at the finish line.
After the Canadian women’s victory, the men’s maple leaf team also took gold, which made Hamel and Dejong even happier.
“Things were already special with our victory, but it was even more beautiful when our male teammates won. It was a very good day for the Canadians,” added Hamel.
The Quebecer won two medals at the World Championships in Lillehammer, she was decorated with bronze in the parallel slalom event. The 24-year-old athlete says she is extremely happy with her performances, especially with the Paralympic Games knocking at the door.
“I’m satisfied with my worlds, I’m happy that we were able to finish the event in style with the team event”, she concluded.
Frederique Turgeon, 5and slalom
Still on the side of the Lillehammer World Championships, but this time in par-alpine skiing, Frédérique Turgeon ranked fifth in the slalom, stopping the clock at 1 minute 41.68 seconds after her two runs.
“It didn’t go badly, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. I made several mistakes and had to fight with the course throughout the day. I managed to stay on my skis and that’s what counts. It’s a little disappointing, I know I can do better,” she explained.
Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe took the bronze medal ahead of Russian Paralympic Committee representative Varvara Voronchikhina (+4.44 seconds). 13.19 seconds behind the winner, Ontarian Michaela Gosselin took the third step of the podium.
Turgeon focused on specific events during these World Championships, the important thing for her was to prepare well for the Paralympic Games to be held at the beginning of March. The 22-year-old believes the difficulties on the slopes are behind her and she will head to Beijing with a head full of confidence.
“It sounds weird, but I’m happy to have had less good performances at the start of the worlds, I know they are behind me. I’m still hungry and I want medals. I say I’m disappointed with my fifth place today [samedi], but I have to say that I have improved a lot in the last few days, so that’s a good sign. »
Frédérique Turgeon will compete in one last World Cup slalom event in Are, Sweden next week before focusing on training for the Paralympics.