GALE GUTTED TO MISS OUT
Ice hockey player Katherine Gale came within a whisker of winning the first medal for Team GB at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, but ultimately had to settle for fifth place in the ice hockey skills challenge event final.
Gale accumulated the same number of points across the six skill challenge as the bronze medallist - Sharnita Crompton of Australia - but the Australian was awarded the bronze medal on count back as she won one of the six skills outright.
While Gale did not finish first in any of the skills, she was the most consistent high performer across the range of skills, which were fastest lap, shooting accuracy, skating agility, fastest shot, passing precision and puck control.
The event, which is a new innovation from the International Olympic Committee, attracted a full house of over 2,000 spectators at the Olympiaworld Stadium.
Gale said: “I’m a bit gutted as it was so close. It’s disappointing not to win a medal but I gave it my all and I really enjoyed the competition.
"I had a few unlucky draws and a couple of unlucky events where I hit a cone or the puck got away from me. It was just an unlucky day overall really.
"But that’s part of the sport and it was great to be out there in front of a big crowd. I kind of kept track of the events and how it was playing out but the most important thing was to focus on each individual event and giving my best.
"I was confused at the end about where I had come, I was trying to ask my parents in the stands but they didn’t know either!
"I’m now going to support the rest of my team-mates and tomorrow I’m going to have the chance to meet Olympic champion Angela Ruggiero, which will be amazing.”