TEAM: After a huge night at Sochi airport, the number of Australian athletes in Sochi has almost doubled.

Nine athletes arrived Sunday night (local time), adding to the 10 already in the village.

Alex Ferlazzo was one of them. The 18-year-old will compete in the Luge and says he’s just excited to be here.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true,” he said.

“I can’t get enough of it. I only just got to the airport and I’m already buzzing.”

After making history winning Australia’s first Luge medal with a bronze at the Junior World Cup youth men’s event in 2012, Ferlazzo says he’s hoping for consistency in Sochi.

“I’ve been on the track before so hopefully I can have consistent runs and pull it all together,” he said.  

Fellow Australian arrival, alpine skier Greta Small, says wearing the green and gold is a proud moment.

“It’s such an exciting time to arrive and I’m just looking forward to my events,” the 18-year-old said.

“It’s amazing, I’m just so proud to be here.”

Joining Ferlazzo and Small in Sochi on Sunday were Biathlon competitors Lucy Glanville and Alex Almoukov, snowboarder Hannah Trigger, and the Australian men’s Bobsleigh team.

The team includes Heath Spence, Gareth Nichols, Lucas Mato and Duncan Harvey.

Pilot of both the 4-man and 2-man team, Spence says it’s all starting to sink in.

“I haven’t been really excited the last couple of weeks just because of the pressure of competing and then waiting and waiting for the final team announcement, but right now I’m pumped,” he said.

After not qualifying for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, Spence says he set out to earn a spot at the Sochi Winter Olympics.  

“Four years ago I set myself the target to be the best qualified Australian bobsled pilot ever,” he said.

“We get seven races to go towards our qualifying and we actually did eleven races just to make sure we had enough points. We didn’t leave it to chance.”

With the last Australian men’s Bobsleigh team to qualify was in Nagano in 1998, Spence said both the 2-man and 4-man events will be tough.

“If we can go top 15 in both events we will be really really happy,” he said.

“We are coming in with expectations to be the best Australian team to ever come here.”

The 33-year old says making his Olympic debut makes all the sacrifices worthwhile.

“We’re here and we love doing what we’re doing.”

The next group of Australian athletes to arrive in Sochi will be at 4am Monday morning (local time).