Students across Australia have the opportunity to connect with their Olympic heroes through the Australian Olympic Committee's Chat to a Champ program.

On August 13, students from St Dominic's Primary School spoke to Vancouver 2010 Olympian and Sochi 2014 Olympic Hopeful Scott Kneller (Ski Cross). Below the students report on their chat. You can also watch the Chat to a Champ session in full here >>

 

Charlotte, St Dominic's Primary School:

A whole room of kids, waiting anxiously for the web cam to start up. For it was the day we were to speak to the one and only, Scott Kneller. Once we were all ready to go, the questions were flowing in from three different schools, St Dominic’s Primary in Vic, Jindabyne Primary in NSW & Horsham West, Vic. Scott was ready for anything we were to throw at him, and he had fantastic answers for all the questions.

He explained so much for us, his goals, his achievements, his biggest crash, his training, his childhood... It was such an interesting chat that probably made all the kids watching realise that Olympians are just normal people, as Scott was studying for a university degree in Commence Engineering and was hoping to complete it in a few years.

When Scott was asked about being nervous, he answered, “When I’m standing at the start gate, it’s a nerve-racking experience. But that’s what I enjoy the most, because I feel that I can fuel that nervous energy. I think feeling like that before a race; it makes that result just so much more exciting. It adds to the whole experience, I guess.”

The question was asked to Scott; what has been the most exciting part in his career? It was answered by Scott with a small bit of cheek. He said that his Olympic role model was skiing against him, and he beat him! Everyone thought that this was amazing, and Scott seemed pretty proud of himself too.

Scott Kneller is the best and only Olympian I’ve met and he was very inspiring and encouraging. All his words were explaining to us all the pros and cons of being an Olympian, and why sport is so important to him and kids our age.

Thank you Scott, we are looking forward to speak to you again in November!

 

Angus, St Dominic's Primary School:

Scott Kneller gives Australia a real hope of a medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Placing 7th in the Ski Cross event at Vancouver hopefully with a bit more experience can make the podium. Scott has great sportsmanship, congratulating other competitors that he skis against.

Early Life
Scott Kneller was born on the 19th of May, 1989 in Jindabyne NSW, Australia. Scott first winter skiing sport was actually Slalom. He was the U14 National Junior champion for Slalom and Giant Slalom. He also represented Australia in Topolino, Italy at the world children’s championships. Scott trained with the Thredbo Ski Race Club. He got lots of support from them and their training helped him qualify for the Junior World Championships. He then became the National junior champion in Slalom and Giant Slalom. He was encouraged by his coaches and family to try Ski Cross. He started his Ski Cross career in 2008 and debut into the World Cup Circuit. He placed 15th on the Olympic Track in Cypress Mountain, Canada.

Education
Scott Kneller attended Jindabyne Central for his primary education. After primary school he went to Hurlstone Agricultural High School in Glenfield New South Wales. After graduating from high school Scott went to the University of New South Wales to study engineering.

Olympic Career
Scott Kneller debuted his Olympic Career at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Scott had a great recovery from a broken Collar Bone only being able to get back on snow five days before the day of his event. Scott finished 7th which is a great personal achievement for him on his Olympic debut.

Preparation for Sochi
With the 2014 Sochi games getting nearer Scott is training hard. He does around eight hours of training a day, six days a week. He does six hours of training on snow with his skies and then does a gym session and finishes it off with a video session. With all that training Scott could well be Australia’s next gold medallist.

 

Millie St Dominic's Primary School:

Skiing down a mountain and twisting round slopes is what Scott Kneller does for a living.  He is very passionate about skiing and is a professional freestyle skier. Competing in the Olympics was a dream of his and it finally came true in 2010 as he participated in the Winter Olympics, not only that he will be competing in Russia next year at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games!

Early life
On May 19, 1989 a champion was born. Raised in Jindabyne, New South Wales, Scott had daily access to the snow, which is probably why he has a big passion for skiing. Fist stepping on the snow at the age of three Scott began his passion for skiing. Scott attended school at Jindabyne Public School, New South Wales. At Jindabyne Scott participated in many sporting activities, like Basketball, soccer and of course skiing. Participating in many Ski programs Scott was the champion of the U14 national Alpine competition. Training with the Thredbo Ski race club Scott tried out for the Junior World Championship.

School participation
When Scott was at school he participated in many skiing activities. Every Wednesday in Term 3 they would go skiing, which Scott really enjoyed. He would also be apart of the Skiing team in interschool sports. Scott skied through all his schooling years and continued his passion after school years as well.

Training hard
Scott is a hard working person. After his skiing routine he would head straight for the gym. He sticks to healthy eating habits and only has a treat every so often. Once Scott almost collapsed after he tried a workout, which he had found on Jon Olson’s blog the workout involved
• 2km run
• 100 chin ups (kipped)
• 200 pushups
• 300 air squats
• 2km run

Lead up to 2010 Olympics
In 2010 during the lead up to the Winter Olympics, Scott had the biggest crash of his career, breaking his collar bone and hitting his head, but fortunately he was wearing a helmet which protected his head from major damage. After he was fully recovered he had five days to practice on the snow. Lucky for him he gained 7th place, which was his personal best.

With the 2014 winter Olympics just around the corner Scott is training very, very hard to soon become Australia’s Gold Medalist.