Kelly Gallagher is finding it hard to justify gold as a suitable consolation for failures in three other events at Sochi 2014 after another crash brought her Winter Paralympics to a disappointing close.
Looking to bounce back from falls in both the slalom and super combined events at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre, Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans had a point to prove in the giant slalom.
But bad luck struck once again as halfway down their first run one of Gallagher's skis came loose, bringing to an end a Games that will be remember for one high and many lows.
In taking the visually impaired super-G title last Monday in Sochi, Gallagher and Evans became the first British athletes ever to win a Winter Paralympic gold medal.
But, despite creating their own bit of history, Gallagher says they will leave with some disappointment given the high standards they set themselves.
"The hope that you have is that what you've achieved is enough and that in a month's time we don't turn around and are still smarting about how it feels," said Gallagher.
"We've won something, we've achieved a goal. It makes us sound maybe spoilt but it's because we have worked so hard and we didn't come to the Games for just one event.
"We came to the Games and had the chance for five gold medals and we chased after every single one of them.
"It wasn't like we have just been lucky to win our gold medal we worked for it and we chased it the whole way down.
"After winning gold we learned that you can't just come down the course relaxed, we are coached and told that we are fighters and we need to keep on fighting.
"I don't know how to fight down a course with one ski on so it is just bad luck. We came from a World Championships where we got four medals out of five events and it was easier to swallow then because I didn't finish the one race.
"It is tougher to take, especially when you know how good form you are in, we have been doing great giant slalom all season and winning nearly every race.
"There is no point in whining about it, we have achieved such a lot and it is just because we are not in the race.
"It's not like I have had a bad run and can redeem myself, there is no hope now and I have to sit and watch some other girls take what I was chasing.
"We've had that for three days and it's hard to pick yourself up from that."
At the age of 28 Gallagher was the joint oldest competitor in her category in Sochi but despite the disappointment she has vowed to continue skiing in search of more glory.
"The Paralympics are amazing but I love skiing and, although this is hard to deal with now, the feeling I get standing in the start gate and then all the way down is great," she added.
"Normally when I finally get to the finish it is a great feeling and although that hasn't happened for a couple of days I have a love for it still." Sainsbury's is a proud long-term supporter of the British Paralympic Association and a champion of inclusive sport for all. For more information on Sainsbury's commitment to inclusive sport visit:www.Sainsburys.co.uk/activekids.
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