– It is a dream come true to get four gold medals in the Paralympic Games. It’s completely raw, Jesper Saltvik Pedersen tells NRK.
With gold in the super-G, super formula, giant slalom and slopes, as well as silver slopes, the 22-year-old Norwegian is undoubtedly the king of the Paralympics.
The alpine star from Karmøy is behind five of the seven Norwegian medals in the tournament.
Norway finished it in eighth place on the medal list at the Paralympic Games.
– It was completely raw. I came into this tournament with a lot of confidence after the World Cup in Havgill, but there is something special about the Paralympics. It was a little special here in Beijing, but we focused on the sport and were able to adapt every day. It exceeded all expectations, Pedersen smiles.
Outstanding: Jesper Saltvik Pedersen was unstoppable at the Paralympics. On Sunday, he won by six seconds.
Photo: Simon Bruty for OIS / NTB
– Will there be any celebration when you get home?
– It will probably be a little festive, but first of all I will relax. It’s been a tough few weeks here. He responds, I’m ready to take life a little easier for the next few weeks.
– take it easy! take it easy!
He could hardly have finished the Paralympics in a better way: Pedersen led a great first round and kept his cool in the last.
However, NRK commentator Ole Kristian Stoltenberg was very nervous along the way.
– take it easy! take it easy! “It’s keeping you from doing a mediocre exercise,” exclaimed the commentator.
In the end he was a full six seconds ahead of Niels de Langen of the Netherlands. Italy’s Rene de Silvestro won the bronze.
Pedersen admits that the second round was a bit tricky.
– It was Difficult conditions. It’s been a little “pattern of coexistence”, but I went through it. I managed to solve business tasks in a straightforward way – the conditions were taken into account. It sure doesn’t look pretty. I went down and today was the most important thing. I ended up with gold today too. He says it’s great.
Pedersen will wrap up a brilliant Paralympic Games as Norway’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony in Beijing tonight. This was confirmed by the Norwegian Sports Federation on Sunday morning.
Gold wholesaler: Jesper Saltvik Pedersen won five of Norway’s seven medals at the Paralympics.
Photo: Joel Marklund for OIS / NTB
Nelson is in nineteenth place
Earlier in the night in Norwegian time, Norway also took home a bronze medal in the 4×2.5km open relay race in cross-country skiing.
Ukraine took the gold while France ran away with the silver.
In the men’s slalom, Marcus Grasto-Nelson took 19th place. Arthur Boucher of France took the gold medal.
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