Greta Small has finished her Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games campaign on a high after achieving her best ever alpine combined result in Olympic competition.
In recording her Olympic Personal Best finish (13th), it is also Australia's third-best ever result in the Olympic alpine combined event and our best in 20 years.
The event involved racers taking two runs in a single day, one downhill and one slalom, where the final times were combined to determine the overall result.
Taking place on the speed and technical courses at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre, ‘the Rock' and ‘the Ice River' respectively proved to be a challenge too much for even the most experienced competitors. There were 11 of the 26 racers that could not complete both courses.
After mixed results in her previous events, Greta has done herself proud.
"I tried to go for it up the top [of the course]. It's snowing here and super flat light which makes it really challenging," she said.
"It might look like snow but it's basically like skiing down an ice rink. Every turn down the last pitch I felt like I was just going to fall so I was just fighting to keep up and make it to the finish.
"It might not have been pretty but you know Mikaela Shiffrin, the world's best, went out on the first eight gates so that just shows you how tough it is out there."
Many would expect that after the Games Greta had earned a rest, a break from competition and maybe even a trip back home to recuperate and recharge. But that was far from her mind, with her performance at the Games making her determined and ready to race.
"I'm on a plane straight back to Switzerland, we have a World Cup event next weekend where I'll be straight back on downhill skis.
A proud Porepunkah woman, Greta keeps her family and fans close. Right after she tackled the harshest of conditions in Beijing she made a point of thanking her family, friends and fans from her small country town as she departed the competition.
Having come to the end of her third Olympics, Greta made it clear where her mind is at about her performance, her mum and future in the sport.
"My mum said she is proud," she laughed.
"I'm definitely not satisfied with that slalom, I know I can ski so much better than that. 13th place, I'm stoked, that's my best ever result, but I'm still hungry for more.
"I know I've got a lot more to give in me and this is not the end. It's not that last you have seen of Greta Small that's for sure."
olympics.com.au
Shannon Knaus
In recording her Olympic Personal Best finish (13th), it is also Australia's third-best ever result in the Olympic alpine combined event and our best in 20 years.
The event involved racers taking two runs in a single day, one downhill and one slalom, where the final times were combined to determine the overall result.
Taking place on the speed and technical courses at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre, ‘the Rock' and ‘the Ice River' respectively proved to be a challenge too much for even the most experienced competitors. There were 11 of the 26 racers that could not complete both courses.
After mixed results in her previous events, Greta has done herself proud.
"I tried to go for it up the top [of the course]. It's snowing here and super flat light which makes it really challenging," she said.
"It might look like snow but it's basically like skiing down an ice rink. Every turn down the last pitch I felt like I was just going to fall so I was just fighting to keep up and make it to the finish.
"It might not have been pretty but you know Mikaela Shiffrin, the world's best, went out on the first eight gates so that just shows you how tough it is out there."
Many would expect that after the Games Greta had earned a rest, a break from competition and maybe even a trip back home to recuperate and recharge. But that was far from her mind, with her performance at the Games making her determined and ready to race.
"I'm on a plane straight back to Switzerland, we have a World Cup event next weekend where I'll be straight back on downhill skis.
A proud Porepunkah woman, Greta keeps her family and fans close. Right after she tackled the harshest of conditions in Beijing she made a point of thanking her family, friends and fans from her small country town as she departed the competition.
Having come to the end of her third Olympics, Greta made it clear where her mind is at about her performance, her mum and future in the sport.
"My mum said she is proud," she laughed.
"I'm definitely not satisfied with that slalom, I know I can ski so much better than that. 13th place, I'm stoked, that's my best ever result, but I'm still hungry for more.
"I know I've got a lot more to give in me and this is not the end. It's not that last you have seen of Greta Small that's for sure."
olympics.com.au
Shannon Knaus
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