Jacqui Cooper has made a stunning return to World Cup aerial skiing competition, finishing second behind team-mate Lydia Ierodiaconou in the first round of the Alpine Exposure World Aerials competition at Mt Buller.
Jacqui Cooper has made a stunning return to World Cup aerial skiing competition, finishing second behind team-mate Lydia Ierodiaconou in the first round of the Alpine Exposure World Aerials competition at Mt Buller.
Ierodiaconou sits on top of the World Cup standings after landing two triple twisting double somersaults to claim the fourth gold medal of her career,
The 22-year-old Flying Kangaroo topped the 100 point mark in both jumps to post the first 200 points plus result of her career.
Cooper was over the moon after taking silver in her first competition since injuring her knee at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games.
Still in the process of re-building her technique, Cooper opted for a safer routine on her return to competition, starting with a double twisting double somersault and following it up with a single twisting double somersault.
The 31 year-old veteran, winner of 15 career World Cups, impressed the judges on both jumps to score a total of 171.10.
And with the strong Canadian women and the leading Chinese faltering, it was enough to hold on for the silver medal.
The bronze went to Russian skier Anna Zukal on 166.71 points.
Of the other Australian skiers in the field, Elizabeth Gardner finished in seventh place on 155.43 points, Bree Munro was 12th on 115.49 points and Lainie Cole was 13th on 107.80 points.
“The first day at Mt Buller always seems like the hardest because you’ve had a week of training and you’re all wound up and you see a few more crashes so I’m glad that I really pulled through today”, Ierodiaconou said.
“I was feeling a bit nervous up there and my heart was racing but it was a really good day for me. I’m sure I will be a lot more relaxed tomorrow.”
“The only kind of pressure I was feeling was coming from myself. I had had a great week of training and I didn’t want to mess up, but I managed to keep everything under control.”
Cooper was also relieved to get the first step in her comeback over.
“Two and a half years and so much work passed before my eyes, and to get a silver medal was nice but really it was just nice to come here and land my two jumps”, Cooper said.
“I was pretty relaxed. Normally I’m doing triples and today it was just doubles so I just tried to keep very calm and enjoy the moment.
“There were a lot of people who had given up on Jacqui Cooper, but a lot of other people have supported me right through and it was great to have them here today.”
The men’s competition was won by Switzerland’s Martin Walti on 240.68 points from Han Xiaopeng of China on 234.21 and Ales Valenta on 230.95.
Forty athletes from eleven nations are competing at Mt Buller this weekend in the first two rounds of the 2004/5 FIS World Cup circuit. There are a total of 13 World Cup events in the season.
Ierodiaconou sits on top of the World Cup standings after landing two triple twisting double somersaults to claim the fourth gold medal of her career,
The 22-year-old Flying Kangaroo topped the 100 point mark in both jumps to post the first 200 points plus result of her career.
Cooper was over the moon after taking silver in her first competition since injuring her knee at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games.
Still in the process of re-building her technique, Cooper opted for a safer routine on her return to competition, starting with a double twisting double somersault and following it up with a single twisting double somersault.
The 31 year-old veteran, winner of 15 career World Cups, impressed the judges on both jumps to score a total of 171.10.
And with the strong Canadian women and the leading Chinese faltering, it was enough to hold on for the silver medal.
The bronze went to Russian skier Anna Zukal on 166.71 points.
Of the other Australian skiers in the field, Elizabeth Gardner finished in seventh place on 155.43 points, Bree Munro was 12th on 115.49 points and Lainie Cole was 13th on 107.80 points.
“The first day at Mt Buller always seems like the hardest because you’ve had a week of training and you’re all wound up and you see a few more crashes so I’m glad that I really pulled through today”, Ierodiaconou said.
“I was feeling a bit nervous up there and my heart was racing but it was a really good day for me. I’m sure I will be a lot more relaxed tomorrow.”
“The only kind of pressure I was feeling was coming from myself. I had had a great week of training and I didn’t want to mess up, but I managed to keep everything under control.”
Cooper was also relieved to get the first step in her comeback over.
“Two and a half years and so much work passed before my eyes, and to get a silver medal was nice but really it was just nice to come here and land my two jumps”, Cooper said.
“I was pretty relaxed. Normally I’m doing triples and today it was just doubles so I just tried to keep very calm and enjoy the moment.
“There were a lot of people who had given up on Jacqui Cooper, but a lot of other people have supported me right through and it was great to have them here today.”
The men’s competition was won by Switzerland’s Martin Walti on 240.68 points from Han Xiaopeng of China on 234.21 and Ales Valenta on 230.95.
Forty athletes from eleven nations are competing at Mt Buller this weekend in the first two rounds of the 2004/5 FIS World Cup circuit. There are a total of 13 World Cup events in the season.
