So close; that was the story for New Zealander Carl Murphy as he finished fourth in the snowboard cross event at the Sochi Paralympics last night.
The Wanaka-based New Plymouth racer was part of a four-way contest for three medals, involving the world's four best competitors.
After putting up two solid runs of 54.62 seconds, then 54.48s, Murphy needed to shave some time off in his third and final run - the two best scores counted - but three times he tumbled to the snow. When he fell shortly after the start, with the margins so small between the quartet, it did for his hopes.
Twice more he then fell before skiing to the finish disconsolate at the outcome of his first Paralympics. Murphy, second at the world champs in France two years ago, finished on 1min 49.10s, 2s off bronze.
Three Americans shared the podium. World champion Evan Strong became the inaugural Paralympic champion in the discipline, clocking 1:43.61 from his two best runs, from Michael Shea (1:44.18) with Keith Gabel taking bronze in 1:47.10.
