FREESTYLE – MOGULS: Australia’s most successful winter Olympian Dale Begg-Smith has already created a significant impact on the Sochi Games 24-hours before he arrives in Russia.

Speaking today at the Australian Team’s first official media conference, Olympic debutants Matt Graham, Nicole Parks, Brodie Summers and Sam Hall all labelled Begg-Smith as an inspiration to setting them on a course to achieving their Olympic dreams.

Graham recalled how Begg-Smith’s gold medal performance in the 2006 Games in Torino ignited his passion and desire to pursue a career in mogul skiing, which led the teenager to dedicating the last four years to ensure that he secured a place at his first Olympics.

 “Since 2006 watching Dale Begg-Smith get the gold medal, all my drive and focus went into getting to these Olympics,” Graham said.

“Dale has had a massive influence on my career.

“I remember four years ago when I was 14 that he spent two days of his time coaching me and I trained alongside of him.

“That had a massive impact in me. Just in those two days I found I made massive gains in my skiing.

“Ever since then we have Skyped and emailed a lot of the time while he took his break, mainly after competitions. He was mainly helping me with strategic things and his approach to competition.

“He has definitely had a big influence on how I approach training, how I approach day-to-day life and how I approach my competition.”

Graham admitted that he achieved a quiet sense of satisfaction when he finished higher in the results in two of the four World Cups both he and Begg-Smith have competed in this season.

“It’s actually been a goal of mine,” Graham said regarding the two occasions he outpointed Begg-Smith.

“I always wanted to compete against him and to be competitive with him especially in finals where we bounce off each other a bit and fist pumping each other and getting each other fired up.

“Having him back this year has been really motivational for the team.

“It’s been really enjoyable for Brodie, Sam and myself to train alongside of him and compete with him.”

Nicole Parks, who is also embarking on her first Olympic Winter Games, echoed Graham’s assessment of their idol.

“He has had some amazing results and he has been a big inspiration for all of us,” Parks said.

“I think everybody has been too hard on him,” she said referring to his much publicised reluctance to talk with the media, and described Begg-Smith as an “awesome guy”.

“He is really nice and has been helping us all.”

Begg-Smith, who added a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games to his gold medal, will join his teammates in Sochi on February 3.