Show USA Comes Out On Top The The 2002 Para Winter Games b began gan with fireworks music and a severe snowstorm The citizens of Utah welcomed the needed moisture but the athletes scheduled scheduled scheduled sched sched- for events the following day watched with a sense of dread Their fears were realized when the mens men's 3 Bl visually impaired and women's downhill skiing were postponed until March These events were then combined with the scheduled scheduled scheduled sched- sched mens men's 12 LWI downhill The postponement didn't didn't didn't did did- nt seem to effect the women of the 12 ski sit-ski classes American athletes Sarah Will Muffy Davis and Stephanie Victor swept the event taking 01 gold silver and bronze It was a great race said silver medallist Muffy Davis I want to go back up and do it again it was so much fun And I dont don't usually say that about downhill American athletes v r t tr s- s r J n N L rt r 5 n xh LAi i ay 3 3 Ar x 1 r 1 h hF 1 G F p s 4 Another US U.S. sweep the first of three during the Ladies' Ladies alpine skiing competition at Photo by Dan Kevin Bramble and Chris Young Devlin-Young took the gold and silver medals for the mens men's v LW 12 event I couldn't hear anything until I crossed the finish line and then I heard I I the crowd said silver n medallist Devlin I knew it was a really good run I dont don't want to be overly optimistic but today's my day Young Devlin-Young isn't a newcomer to the scene He qualified for the last four games but he has only competed in two His first experience experience experience came in the 1994 Lillehammer Norway games He com com- DOWNHILL J in three events and won the gold in mens men's slalom for the theL L 3 W 3 1 standing classes Young Devlin-Young began skiing using braces on his legs and stabilizers stabilizers stabilizers sta sta- instead of poles The degree of his paralyzed state in his lower body was mild enough to allow him a certain amount of mobility Against his doctors advice he continued to ski in a standing position He changed to toa toa a ski sit-ski position after he had a serious injury during durine the Lillehammer games My mobility is lessnow less lessnow lessnow now but my ability is better said Devlin When Young Devlin-Young isn't training or competing hes he's coaching He began the New England Disabled Ski h is is' is i based near his home at Loon Mountain He started the team because he saw a gap between basic skiing and ski racing instruction His first student to compete in the games was the visually impaired skier Andy Parr Parr placed forth in the mens men's 3 Bl down down- hill I decided to step away from ski racing in 1998 to pursue pursue pursue pur pur- sue coaching said Devlin- Devlin Young I knew it was time to stop being selfish and give something back A w 1 Pascale Casanova FAA ERA 80 2 Katerina T pia 1 26 73 3 AUT 1 32 82 1 Sarah W Wd USA 96 2 DaVIS Dave USA 65 3 anI Victor V- V USA 1 Dania er AUT 1 2675 2 Sarah B a ev USA LISA SO 50 3 Inga Inge M Me Med va RUS 1 30 83 8 46 1 Rac aol 1 2 CS J USA I 31 41 3 CAN Wm Men Visually 83 82 1 Bo 1 Bunting AUS 1 19 92 2 Eric Ene ESP 64 6 3 Yon ESP 1 21 2157 57 4 Ant Andy Parr Pair USA 1 11 aler GER 20 2 Wadd lUSA USA 3 Romy SWE 01 1 d E Edof or AUT 04 2 Andreas AAG as AUT ALIT 22 1 03 3 o ITA 01 6 Jo Joe Tompkins T USA 1 I 26 08 I II IJ Kwi Kew 9 USA 2 C. C Dev oMu Young n Young USA 3 Darnel Daniel Wesley Westey CAN 1 lI Michael Cf Ma AUS 64 6 2 Christian ITA TA 62 3 Jas Jason JIB Lla USA 1 25 88 L 79 1 G. G GER 76 2 Ana Amo I AUT ALIT 71 3 Jamb Jacob Rile to USA 1 28 07 I 1 Hart Hans Bum SUI 65 2 Am om 14 Lage Lagerstrom USA 3 Sleven Bayley NO 91 I I 1 Roll Rod SUI SUII 2426 2 LIonel Brun FAA ERA 3 GER 24 1 70 7 7 Adam Mam F Emma USA NOTE Al AI i m N |