![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/CE6B/production/_123534825_gettyimages-1379736800.jpg)
Venue: Beijing, China Dates: 4-13 March Time in Beijing: GMT +8 |
Millie Knight won Great Britain’s first medal of the Beijing Winter Paralympics with bronze in the women’s visually-impaired downhill.
The 23-year-old and guide Brett Wild, who took silver four years ago, put in a solid run on the opening day of competition to finish in one minute 23.20 seconds.
Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova won her third gold medal in a row (1:19.50).
China’s Daquing Zhu took silver (1:21.75) on her Paralympic debut.
It was the first-ever individual Winter Paralympic medal for the host nation.
Britain’s other competitor Menna Fitzpatrick was fifth at the Yanqing Alpine Centre with guide Gary Smith in what is one of her weaker events.
Knight has fought back from multiple concussions, most recently after a crash in February 2021, which left her questioning her future in the sport
But along with Wild, Knight, who is competing at her third Games, worked hard to regain her confidence on the slopes and the dedication has paid off for the pair who will next go in Sunday’s super-G.
In the men’s visually-impaired event, Neil Simpson guided by his brother Andrew, finished seventh in a race won by 16-year-old Austrian Johannes Aigner with only 0.65 seconds separating the top three finishers.
Meenagh in highest-ever Paralympic placing
At the Zhangjiakou Biathlon Centre, Scott Meenagh, at his second Games, claimed his first Paralympic top-10 finish with ninth in the men’s sprint seated event.
Meenagh was one minute and 43 seconds behind gold medallist Zixu Liu of China while Callum Deboys, on his Games debut, was 17th.
However, Steve Arnold was unable to take part in the event after testing positive for Covid-19 prior to his departure for China.
Under Games rules, participants must return two negative Covid tests within 96 hours of departure of their flight and the 32-year-old, who was due to make his Games debut in China, will remain in the UK and work with the ParalympicsGB medical team while all options are assessed.
The former Army sergeant, who lost his legs while serving in Afghanistan in 2011, was entered in six events across biathlon and cross country at the Games.