ALPINE SKIING: In her Asian Winter Games debut, Australia’s Zanna Farrell has achieved a fantastic result, finishing fifth in the ladies’ giant slalom in Sapporo today.
After a difficult first run of 1:19.33 which had her sitting in eighth, the 18-year-old produced a stellar final run of 1:13.43, to take her total time to 2:32.76 and elevate her to fifth place.
Although the first run didn’t go to plan, Farrell was ecstatic with her ability to turn her performance around and produce the final result.
“The first run was okay, not my best as it was pretty bumpy and lots of ice,” Farrell said.
“I picked up a bad line and wasn’t where I wanted to be.
“The second run was much better, I was in a better mind set. Conditions were pretty much the same and I was starting a similar number, but my mental state was different.
“I was more calm, more positive towards the skiing and knowing the course… I was much more centred,” she said.
Japan secured a 1-2-3 in the event, with Emi Hasegawa winning in a total time of 2:21:58.
Asa Ando and Mio Arai were second and third in times of 2:23.45 and 2:25.49 respectively, however the AWG have a rule that prevents a country from having a clean sweep in an event. Therefore, South Korea’s Kang Young-seo who finished fourth in 2:32:35 received the bronze medal.
For Farrell, having recently recovered from a lower back and hip injury, she was stoked to have put down such a strong performance in the giant slalom, which is not her pet event.
“The last couple of days we didn’t really get any training, so to have a good run on the back of a huge break, it was really amazing.”
Farrell will take today’s experience in her stride as she turns her attention to the slalom event.
“I am better at slalom, and I enjoy it a little bit more,” she said.
“I am hoping to get the first run one that I’m really happy with, not one that I need to bring a comeback from. So I’m hoping to perform the first run first thing in the morning and nail it from the start.”
Farrell will compete in the ladies’ slalom event on Saturday 25th.
Georgia Thompson
olympics.com.au
