Cross country: Australian cross country skiers Ben Sim, Clare-Louise Brumley and KT Calder have missed out in their first attempt to qualify for Torino 2006, finishing back in the field in the 15km classical and 10km classical events in Beitostoelen, Norway, at the weekend.

The trio have their next opportunity in Kuusamo, Finland, over the coming weekend, then in Otepaa, Estonia, on January 7. Qualification for one skier requires a top 80% result in two of the three events. All three skiers are also vying for positions in other events at the Games

Speed skating: Richard Goerlitz has also fallen just short of posting an Olympic qualifying result in the opening two events of the World Cup season in North America.

Skating in the 1500m events in Calgary and Salt Lake City, the former short track Olympian missed the top 80% per cent of field necessary for qualification by a narrow margin, and now needs to achieve that mark in each of the final three events before the qualification deadline.