Corey Peters claims medal for New Zealand at Winter Paralympics

Bronze medalist Corey Peters. Photo / Getty

New Zealand have claimed their first medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics.

Corey Peters has picked up a bronze medal in the men's downhill sitting event, to go with the silver medal he claimed at the 2014 Sochi games.

Peters set a strong time early and held on to bronze as the last 10 competititors couldn't beat his time.

He finished 0.22 seconds ahead of fourth place, 0.26 seconds behind the silver medal, and 1.9 seconds behind gold medalist Andrew Kurka.

The 34-year-old was New Zealand's flagbearer for the games, as one of three athletes competing.

One of the other two, Kiwi skier Adam Hall, has missed out on a medal in the standing downhill event.

Hall finished fifth overall and was just over a second outside third place with the 30-year-old entering the Games ranked third in the world for Downhill.

Competing at his fourth Paralympics, Hall won gold at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver in the Slalom event.

Both Hall and Peters will participate in other events later in the Games, which run until March 18.