Pakistans Muhammad Abbas reacts after finishing the second run of the Mens giant slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia. -Photo by AP
It was a day when athletes from countries not normally associated with skiing or Winter Olympics, for that matter, celebrated their extraordinary journeys.

Pakistan's first Winter Olympian Muhammad Abbas, who learnt to ski by strapping carved wooden planks to his legs with nylon rope, finished more than 42 seconds behind the winner Carlo Janka of Switzerland but ahead of a San Marino skier and India's Jamyang Namgial in the Men's Giant Slalom category at the Whistler Creekside.

Competing in the event as the 96th skier out of 103 skiers, Abbas finished his first run with a time of 1.38.27 minutes, gingerly negotiating the twists and turns amidst cold and cloudy conditions. He was 21 seconds behind the top ranked skier Carlo Janka of Switzerland and finished 87.

In the second  run, starting at 87, Abbas finished at a rank of 79 clocking a time of 142.31. He finished with an overall time of 320.58 minutes.

Abbas finished 14.34 seconds ahead of last-ranked Jamyang Namgial of India and 5.18 seconds ahead of second last-ranked Marino Cardelli of San Marino.

Final result for Muhammad Abbas

Run 1

Start order 96

Finish 87

Time 1.38.27 

Difference from leader 21 secs

Run 2

Start order 87

Finish 79

Time 142.31

Difference from leader 22.16 secs

Total time 320.58

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