Snowboarder Bibian Mentel has won the first Dutch medal of the Paralympics in Sochi, taking gold in the snowboard cross event.

Mentel, who was Dutch flag carrier at the opening event, was favourite and had already won all seven events to take the World Cup earlier this season.

Mentel was on the point of qualifying for the ordinary Olympics in 2002 when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer which led to the amputation of her right leg.