SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder Lavinia Chrystal will get her first taste of the Sochi Winter Olympics, when she hits the slopes this afternoon (approximately 5.30pm AEDT) in the women’s giant slalom event.
Chrystal, a Master of Management student at The University of Sydney, is one of three Australian’s (the others being Greta Small and Emily Bamford) in the 90 strong field.
Originally scheduled to begin at 6pm, the competition will instead begin at 4.30pm AEDT today (Tuesday). Chrystal is scheduled as the 62nd skier to attack the first run at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center and should take off on her run at approximately 5.30pm AEDT.
Should she qualify for the second run, Chrystal will be in action again at 8pm AEDT tonight.
Also in action is former SUSF EAP scholarship holder Astrid Radjenovic (nee Loch-Wilkinson), who will team up with former two-time 400m hurdles world champion Jana Pittman in the women’s bobsleigh.
The first heat will take place at 2.15am on Wednesday morning (AEDT) at the Sanki Sliding Center. Heat two will begin at 3.20am. Should they progress through the first two heats, Radjenovic and Pittman will compete for a medal in the third and fourth runs on Thursday morning.
Overnight, former SUSF EAP scholarship holder Danielle O’Brien and figure skating partner Greg Merriman finished in 20th position in the second and final phase of the ice dancing competition.
Having already achieved their goal of securing a top 20 berth after the short dance routine on Monday morning, Merriman and O’Brien scored 75.85 points in the free dance.
Inspired by the circus in a competition where athletes are allowed to choose their own music, themes and rhythms in the dance, their performance proved to be a wonderful display of theatrics and choreography.
