‘Always my dream’ – Ribera wins Brazil’s first medalImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Cristian Westemaier Ribera finished 0.7 seconds behind gold medallist Liu ZixuByPhil CartwrightBBC Sport journalistPublished27 minutes agoYou wait an age for a medal, then two come along almost at once.Cristian Westemaier Ribera became Brazil’s first ever Winter Paralympic medallist by finishing second in the Para-cross-country skiing men’s seated sprint on Tuesday.The 23-year-old’s silver came less than a month after Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the South American nation’s first medal at a Winter Olympics – gold in the men’s giant slalom.
Ribera was the fastest qualifier, won his semi-final and led in the closing stages of the final, appearing on course for gold.
However, he was overtaken in the final few metres by China’s Liu Zixu, who added a third medal to the gold and bronze he won in Para-biathlon earlier in the Games.
“It is so emotional,” reported Ribera. “I would have wanted to come away with a gold medal, but Liu was very strong.
“It was always my dream. When I started to compete in this sport, I thought I would be a Paralympian.
“After I did that, my goal was to win a medal. Now it’s happened, so I’m very proud.”
