Interview of Fanny Smith
Fanny Smith 21-years old ski cross champion competes for his second Olympics. Tomorrow on Rosa Khutor’s track, she dreams about gold medal. A realistic ambition for the skier native of Villars in Switzerland. Seventh in Vancouver, she have stored some experience and victories since last Olympics : world champion and victorious of the world cup of ski cross the last season, Fanny Smith asserts his ambitions and aims the most precious metals to Sochi. Between sessions of trainings and other obligations, the skier very appreciate of the circuit answer our questions, very friendly.
1. Fanny Smith, we would be happy to know you better, can you introduce yourself in a few sentences please.
I am a 21 year old ski cross athlete from Villars in Switerzland. I grew up on skis and love to be on the snow. I love life, am a free spirit and always give 110% to everything I do and always have fun and a smile on my face.
2. Can you explain in a few words the ski cross for the audience please ?
Ski cross is an exciting sport…we race four at a time down a course which includes jumps, rollers and banks and in each race the first two past the post proceed to the next round. I love it because it is fast paced and exciting. You need to be technically a good skier and also have the mental strength to race head to head with three other girls. It’s great because you can see right away who has won rather than watching the clock for people’s times
3. Sochi are your second Olympics, what is your preparation for an event like this ?
In fact my preparation in pretty much the same as every year. I have to always be 100% fit every season to be able to compete at the highest level so for the Olympics that is no different. The main difference is I spent a week before I came to Sochi specifically training for the Games. We created a special start the same as the course here which we practiced on. The start is a very important part of the race. The other thing which is important at the Olympics is your mental preparation as the pressure at the Games is different to at any other event so I spend time working on my mental preparation as well.
4. You perform in a sport that suffers from broadcasting in France, I guess that Olympics are a good way to highlight your sport ?
The Olympics is a great event for all sports. So many people follow both the Summer and Winter Olympics who don’t normally watch sports so it is very good to highlight our sport. I think that ski cross is great to watch because even people who do not understand the most technical aspects of skiing can see who is first past the line. As ski cross is still quite a new sport, the fans are growing every day and the Olympics can only help to get even more people interested.
5. Last year you become World champion for the first time and then you won the overall of ski-cross, you are here at Sochi with a full confidence.
Last season was a great season for me. I have prepared for Sochi the best I can and I hope I can race well and bring home a medal, a gold one! But the other girls are also great and skiing well and anything can happen in a race when we have four of us at the same time.
6. Who impress you the most ? Ophelie David ?
All of the top girls are a danger. They all ski great – Marielle Thompson has had a great season so far and for sure Ophelie is also a very tough competitor – she beat me by a fingertip in the last World Cup race. Ophelie is a very good friend of mine – she is so strong but also so nice – it is impossible not to like her!
We would want to thank warmly Fanny Smith for having answered our questions during this Olympics. Here is the video of the final of the World Championships last year at Voos in Norway.
By Mathieu Plestan