In a field of over 80 skiers from across the globe, Hotham’s Harry Laidlaw finished 29th in the Men’s Giant Slalom. It was a race for the ages, which saw South America win its first Winter Olympic gold medal.
Article courtesy olympics.com.au
The Victorian was satisfied with his first run and could see opportunity being high in the start order for the second run. In Giant Slalom, the top 30 order is reversed meaning that Laidlaw would run third in the new start order on a course that is completely reset, free from the ruts of the last runs.
“I mean, [on the first run] the conditions were pretty bumpy, so I definitely had a few bubbles where I lost a lot of speed. But I think where I'm sitting now, it's a great position to jump up some numbers on the second run,” Laidlaw said between runs.
Getting this result was a long time in the making for the two-time Olympian. Laidlaw competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games where he unfortunately did not complete his first run.
He pushed hard to perform after those Games, but a knee injury sidelined Laidlaw ahead of the 2022 Beijing Games. So, the run today was really eight long years in the making. In addition to his knee troubles, he also had spinal surgery in 2024 meaning the road to Milano Cortina was no picnic.
“It’s been eight years since my last Games. It's incredible to be back and I feel like in between those eight years, a lot has happened. I had a few years where I was really doing well, first Australian Europa Cup GS podium, and first [Australian man] to qualify for the World Cup Giant Slalom second run,” the 29-year-old said.
“It’s been eight years, but obviously, the last two to three years, it's been super difficult. I had a hairline fracture in my hip, then back surgery, and then a dislocated shoulder this summer. So, it's been super difficult, especially the back injury that happened in 2024.”
His second run unfortunately did not go to plan. He lost his line about a third of the way into the course causing him to bleed off speed through several gates.
“I mean, I was not super happy with the skiing after the first run, but I was lucky to be in a good position for the second run. So, I was just trying to go as hard as I could to jump up a few spots. I was just trying to attack.”
“The course setting was super-fast and super straight, so there was no other way to go, so I was just trying to go hard and unfortunately, it didn't pay off the way I would have liked.”
Laidlaw finished the day in 29th place with a total time of 2:31.90, he was +6.90 seconds behind the race leader.
Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history taking home the gold and becoming the first ever Winter Olympic medalist from any South American country. Laidlaw was impressed by the efforts of the Brazilian.
“Yeah, super impressive. I mean, I thought that Switzerland would have done it, but, it's too cool to see, and especially from a small nation guy to get in there and get Brazil's first Winter Olympic gold is pretty sick.”
Swisse skiers Marco Odermatt and Loic Meillard rounded out the podium taking home the silver and bronze medals.
Phoebe Heaydon and Madison Hoffman will compete in the Women’s Giant Slalom on 15 February and Slalom on 18 February
Article courtesy olympics.com.au
The Victorian was satisfied with his first run and could see opportunity being high in the start order for the second run. In Giant Slalom, the top 30 order is reversed meaning that Laidlaw would run third in the new start order on a course that is completely reset, free from the ruts of the last runs.
“I mean, [on the first run] the conditions were pretty bumpy, so I definitely had a few bubbles where I lost a lot of speed. But I think where I'm sitting now, it's a great position to jump up some numbers on the second run,” Laidlaw said between runs.
Getting this result was a long time in the making for the two-time Olympian. Laidlaw competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games where he unfortunately did not complete his first run.
He pushed hard to perform after those Games, but a knee injury sidelined Laidlaw ahead of the 2022 Beijing Games. So, the run today was really eight long years in the making. In addition to his knee troubles, he also had spinal surgery in 2024 meaning the road to Milano Cortina was no picnic.
“It’s been eight years since my last Games. It's incredible to be back and I feel like in between those eight years, a lot has happened. I had a few years where I was really doing well, first Australian Europa Cup GS podium, and first [Australian man] to qualify for the World Cup Giant Slalom second run,” the 29-year-old said.
“It’s been eight years, but obviously, the last two to three years, it's been super difficult. I had a hairline fracture in my hip, then back surgery, and then a dislocated shoulder this summer. So, it's been super difficult, especially the back injury that happened in 2024.”
His second run unfortunately did not go to plan. He lost his line about a third of the way into the course causing him to bleed off speed through several gates.
“I mean, I was not super happy with the skiing after the first run, but I was lucky to be in a good position for the second run. So, I was just trying to go as hard as I could to jump up a few spots. I was just trying to attack.”
“The course setting was super-fast and super straight, so there was no other way to go, so I was just trying to go hard and unfortunately, it didn't pay off the way I would have liked.”
Laidlaw finished the day in 29th place with a total time of 2:31.90, he was +6.90 seconds behind the race leader.
Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history taking home the gold and becoming the first ever Winter Olympic medalist from any South American country. Laidlaw was impressed by the efforts of the Brazilian.
“Yeah, super impressive. I mean, I thought that Switzerland would have done it, but, it's too cool to see, and especially from a small nation guy to get in there and get Brazil's first Winter Olympic gold is pretty sick.”
Swisse skiers Marco Odermatt and Loic Meillard rounded out the podium taking home the silver and bronze medals.
Phoebe Heaydon and Madison Hoffman will compete in the Women’s Giant Slalom on 15 February and Slalom on 18 February
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