Snowboarder James Barnes-Miller ‘gutted’ to miss main shot at Winter Paralympic medal
The Brit finished fifth in the snowboard cross SB-UL class as Chinese boarders locked out the podium in Beijing
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.James Barnes-Miller fears he blew his one and only shot at a Winter Paralympic medal after slipping to a fifth-place finish at Beijing 2022.
The British snowboarding star, who competes in the SB-UL class for athletes with upper limb impairments, was undone by Chinese domination in his favoured snowboard cross event as the home favourites grabbed all three spots on the podium.
Barnes-Miller won his small final at Genting Snow Park but the big hitters in Zhangjiakou – who beat him in the semi-finals after capitalising on his fall – were a cut above, duelling it out in the main event as Ji Lijia reigned supreme.
The 32-year-old, who finished seventh at PyeongChang 2018, had come to the Games with genuine medal aspirations and admits it’s back to the drawing board after failing to fire.
“I feel like that was my chance to get a medal,” he admitted. “But hey-ho.
“I felt I was riding well after not riding great yesterday, but today I was riding really well and then getting taken out is just gutting.
“I’ll have a day off tomorrow, relax, take my mind off it and just get focused in again.”
Barnes-Miller came to the Winter Paralympics off the back of a brilliant World Championships in Lillehammer, where he claimed three medals in the snowboard cross, banked slalom and team events.
He also won the Crystal Globe in 2020 as the best performer of the season but was unable to convert that form onto the big Paralympic stage.
The Brit now turns his attention to the banked slalom event on Saturday, where he finished tenth in PyeongChang and admits he sometimes struggles for pace.
But Barnes-Miller knows grit and resilience are part and parcel of being a snowboarder and hopes digging deep when it matters can help him recover.
“It does take a lot, especially when you have a big fall or injury, to get back up and go again,” added Barnes-Miller, one of over 1,000 athletes able to train full-time, access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support thanks to vital National Lottery funding.
“You have to have something about you. Getting knocked down and having to get back up when you get knocked down properly takes a bit.”
No-one does more to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes than National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes including grassroots and elite sport. Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the hashtag: #TNLAthletes
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments