The 28-year-old was one of six athletes competing in the inaugural event, posting a combined time of 1:49.40 to finish 0.68 seconds clear of Eric Eierdam of the United States, with another home slider, Ryan Gautieri, third. 

A former Lance Bombardier in the British Army, Richardson was struck by a landmine while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2008, losing both of his feet in the blast.

He has since been introduced to Para-skeleton via a Sports Recovery Programme launched by charity Help for Heroes in 2008 to aid the recovery of men and women injured in active service.

"To win the race was an amazing feeling," he told BBC Sport afterwards.

"I think this World Cup is huge and there's so much excitement among the athletes who all want to be able to compete in Para-skeleton or Para-bobsleigh at a Paralympics,"

This comes only days after the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation [FIBT] approved the World Cup series, with it seen as a seminal first step towards eventual Paralympic inclusion, most realistically for the first time at the 2022 Winter edition.

Away from the Paralympics, the FIBT have also granted women permission to compete in four-man bobsleigh events for the first time this month, with Canada's Sochi 2014 champion Kaillie Humphries among those to have taken advantage ©Getty Images





Earlier this year, the FIBT raised the prospect of sliding sports being included at least as exhibition sports in Pyeongchang, hailing how rules and equipment were being developed with help from the South Korean Adaptive Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.

But the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) soon put the breaks on this enthusiasm, with a spokesperson telling insidethegames there was no chance of the sport being showcased on the biggest stage that soon.

"In early June 2013 we informed the FIBT that the IPC Governing Board had taken the decision not to include the sport of Para-bobsleigh and Para-skeleton in the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games," it was said.

"We are encouraged to see that they are looking to develop the sport further in terms of rules, equipment and classification.

"If sufficient progress is made over the coming years, we would welcome a bid for inclusion in the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games."

At present, the Winter Paralympic programme consists of Alpine and Nordic skiing, biathlon, ice sledge hockey, wheelchair curling and snowboarding, held for the first time in Sochi. 

Speaking following the World Cup, FIBT vice-president sport and USA Bobsled & Skeleton chief executive, Darrin Steele, insisted they "want the sport to grow", and are "proud to support the adaptive programme and to see it develop".

"I hope we look back at this day in 20 years as the historic official start of a Paralympic sport," he added.

Para-Skeleton athletes are expected to race in the second World Cup event in Calgary ending on Saturday (November 22), where a Para-bobsleigh event should also be held.  

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February 2014: IPC puts brakes on sliding sports inclusion in Pyeongchang 2018
February 2014: FIBT begin drive for Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympics
January 2012: Campaign launched to get sliding sports into Paralympics for Pyeongchang 2018