Paralympian Adam Hall eyes more medals

It is back to business for New Zealand's latest gold medallist.

Adam Hall, fresh from winning the men's standing-slalom at the Vancouver Paralympic Games, was yesterday preparing for the weekend's ski action.

However, in a strategic move, he pulled out of this morning's (NZ time) giant slalom.

Hall told The Press he wanted to concentrate on this weekend's Super G and Super Combined events.

The Otago skier fought on after a fall during his second slalom run to beat one-armed German skier Gerd Schonfelder by 0.57 seconds and claim gold on Tuesday.

"It's pretty hard to describe it. I've never had this feeling before and it's still really sinking in. It's going to take a while to really hit," he said yesterday.

Hall, 22, who has spina bifida, said his Games preparation had been perfect.

"It's all about the preparation and we just had to trust we had done everything we could ... and instead of me chasing the result, the result was going to chase me."

Hall is New Zealand's first winter Paralympic medallist in eight years.

"It's a really good feeling to add to the New Zealand medal count," he said.

"It has been a long time and to do that, and not just to be on the podium but on top of the podium with a gold is just incredible."

After an awards ceremony, Hall had "chilled out".

New Zealand Paralympic team chef de mission Jon Turnbull said Hall would be targeting a top-10 finish in the Super G, and a higher spot in the Super Combined.

"He'll be straight back into it. I think a big thing is to make sure he remains focused, which is pretty hard to do after he's done what he's done," Turnbull said. Hall is due to return to New Zealand on April 6.

Meanwhile, Hall's team-mate, Peter Williams, of Auckland, finished 20th in the men's giant slalom (sitting) yesterday.

- © Fairfax NZ News