Kim Yunji (right) on March 10 performs a reverse run in the women's sprint sitting final at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the village of Tesero at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics in Italy. (Korea Paralympic Committee)

By Charles Audouin

Kim Yunji is the country's first female athlete to win two medals at a Winter Paralympics.

Kim on March 10 won the silver in the sprint sitting final of cross-country skiing with a time of 3 minutes, 10:01 seconds at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the village of Tesero, finishing behind winner Oksana Masters of the U.S. (3:07:01).

Cross-country skiing is done on courses built on snow-covered mountains or snowfields. Unlike alpine skiing, the sport features uphill sections needing major cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength.

On March 8, Kim made history as the first Korean woman to bag a gold in the tournament, winning the biathlon's 12.5-km individual sitting event. Her silver in cross-country skiing also earned Team Korea its third medal of this competition.

She is also just the second Korean to win two medals in a Winter Paralympics after men's cross-country skier Shin Eui Hyun, who won a gold and a bronze at PyeongChang 2018.

Kim's next event on March 11 is the 10-km interval start sitting event of cross-country skiing.

In wheelchair curling, the mixed doubles team of Baek Hyejin and Lee Yongsuk secured at least a silver by advancing to the final.

caudouin@korea.kr