
Alpine skier Momoka Muraoka became the first Japanese medalist of the Pyeongchang Paralympics on Saturday, and fellow skiier Taiki Morii became the second.
Muraoka, 21, won the silver medal in the sitting category of women's downhill Alpine skiing, grabbing her first Paralympic medal.
"I was hoping to become the first medalist [among Japanese Paralympians during the current Games], so I'm relieved to have made it happen," Muraoka said after the race.
"I was scared thinking that I might fall, but I'm so glad that I was able to finish racing the course," she added.
Morii, 37, won silver in the men's sitting downhill in his fifth consecutive Paralympics. He has won three silver medals in super-G, downhilll and giant slalom as well as a bronze in super-G in the past Games.
"I'm frustrated [with yet another silver], but it's a relief that I was able to come through," Morii said.
"I made a mistake and was unable to speed up during the race," he reflected after the competition.
Akira Kano, 31, who won three gold medals in Sochi and Vancouver, also took part in the same event, but did not finish the race.
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