Nordic skier Kim Yunji on March 8 sprints in the women's para biathlon's 12.5-km individual sitting event at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the village of Tesero during the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics in Italy.

By Yoon Sojung
Photos = Korea Paralympic Committee 

The national team at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics in Italy has won a gold and a bronze medal early in the competition.

Nordic skier Kim Yunji on March 8 won the women's para biathlon's 12.5-km individual sitting event with a time of 38 minutes, 00.1 second at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the village of Tesero. Anja Wicker of Germany won the silver (38:12.9) and Kendall Gretsch of the U.S. (38:36.1) the bronze.

Falling to third late in the event after leading early on, Kim regained first place by hitting all five shots in her final attempt and completed her dramatic comeback with an all-out sprint.

Her gold was Korea's first since Shin Eui Hyun won the men's cross-country skiing at the 2018 event in Pyeongchang-gun County, Gangwon-do Province. Kim is also the first Korean to win a Winter Paralympic event outside of Korea and the first Korean woman to win a gold in the tournament.

For the men, snowboarder Lee Jehyuk won the bronze in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL2, finishing behind winner Emanuele Ferratonere of Italy and runner-up Ben Tudhoof of Australia. Lee nearly collided with Alex Massey of Canada but overtook the latter to finish third.

Lee's medal was Korea's first in snowboarding at a Winter Paralympics.

President Lee Jae Myung on March 9 through his social media account praised both Kim and Lee. 

"Kim Yunji challenged her limits regardless of season, swimming in the summer and skiing in the winter," he said. "Her efforts and passion finally bore fruit on snowy fields this winter."

"Lee Jehyuk, who lost his left ankle to an injury while snowboarding, got back on his board and picked up where he left off," President Lee added. "I applaud his determination and tenacity to overcome his boundaries."

Nordic skier Kim Yunji on March 8 holds up her gold medal at the awards ceremony after winning the 12.5-km individual sitting event of the women's para biathlon at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the village of Tesero at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics in Italy.

Lee Jehyuk (left) on March 8 celebrates after winning the bronze in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 at the Cortina Para Snowboard Park in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

arete@korea.kr