Australian pocket rocket and WAIS scholarship holder Greta Small has continued her sensational snow form to finish 25th in Super Combined at the 2013 World Ski Championships in Schladming, Germany.
The 17-year-old was competing at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games 12 months ago, and has taken to the senior stage with aplomb.
Just the second-youngest competitor in a senior field that included her idol, Lindsey Vonn, Small’s strong form is all the more remarkable given the testing conditions competitors have faced in Germany.
Some 15 competitors did not finish the Super Combined, while multiple Olympic Champion Vonn suffered a devastating fall in the Super G event on the opening day that ended her season.
The Super G event was cut short due to terrible fog and poor conditions, and Small was not able to take to the start line. Despite the obvious emotional toll, Small saw the silver lining and exploded to finish 25th in the Super Combined, achieving her goal of reaching the top 30.
Small then went on to finish 33rd in a thrilling downhill event where France’s Marion Rolland upstaged a raft of big-name favourites to come out a surprise winner.
Small – the second youngest competitor in the field – was only the fifth Australian to compete in a World Championship downhill event, following in the steps of Olympians; Jeannette Korten, Jenny Owens, Alice Jones and Rowena Bright.
– AOC
