LAUNCESTON'S Dominic Monypenny has become the first Tasmanian to compete at both summer and winter Paralympics.
On day three of the Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver, he set a personal best in coming 17th in the men's 15km cross-country sit skiing.
In a field of 30, the father-of-three, who gave up his job as an industrial research chemist with Tasmanian Alkaloids at Westbury to pursue his dream in Vail, Colorado, clocked 44:55.70.
He was four minutes behind Russian winner Irek Zaripov in a field dominated by Europeans.
Monypenny, 49, is also expected to contest the men's 10km event at Whistler Paralympic Park on Thursdaynts18thnte and the 1km sprint on Sunday, which will involve qualification and a semi-final.
The former Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holder is one of only five athletes to make the switch from summer to winter Paralympics. A world champion rower, he reached
the final of his event at the Beijing Games in 2008.
SEE THE EXAMINER TOMORROW FOR MONYPENNY'S REACTION
Email a friend