Small has Big Hopes
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are quickly becoming recognised as an important pathway for young athletes striving to represent their country at the Olympic Games.
Already there are three young Australians who competed at the first YOG in Singapore 2010 who are now Olympians, among them Olympic silver medallist and YOG Ambassador Jessica Fox.
Now there are two more Australians – Alex Ferlazzo (Luge) and Greta Small (Alpine Skiing), who will compete at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia this February.
Both teenagers wore the green and gold at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck 2012.
“The Innsbruck experience was huge,” said Ferlazzo, who finished 19th in Luge at the YOG and later that year made history by winning bronze in a Junior World Cup – Australia’s first ever medal at this level.
”It really inspired me to keep going in Luge and go to another Olympics. Once you go to one, you want to go to another.”
Small, who has an impeccable work ethic, notched up two top 10 results at the YOG – a seventh in the Slalom and Super-G events as well as 13th in the Giant Slalom and Super Combined.
The 18-year-old was also awarded the honour of Australian Flagbearer at the Games.
”It was really incredible to be the flagbearer for the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games,” Small said.
“To be selected for that and represent the youth of the country was really amazing. I take a lot of pride in being selected and carrying the flag for Australia.”
Ferlazzo will draw on his experience at the YOG to help him in Sochi.
”The YOG was a learning curve,” he said.
“I am still learning. I remember the atmosphere, the athletes’ reactions and the level of competition. I remember the different environment of the Olympic level and I will take it into Sochi.”
Most recently, Small won the junior bronze medal in Slalom at the NorAm Cup in Loveland Colorado (USA) and finished 10th in the Giant Slalom at the Nor-Am Cup in Vail, Colorado (USA). Her goal for Sochi is a top 20 result in any of her disciplines.
Despite her young age, Small is not easily flustered at the start gate.
“I know that it is just a matter of me relaxing and being calm in the start gate, being focused and ready to go. Then I know I will perform at my best,” she said.
Ferlazzo is looking further ahead and sees the 2014 Games as another stepping stone in his athlete pathway.
“The reality for me at the Sochi Games is putting together four clean runs. This is achievable as well as a stepping stone to next Games,” he said.
To other young Aussies aspiring to compete at the Olympics and Youth Olympics, Ferlazzo says: “Never give up on what you believe in. Every mistake is a learning curve. You have to get back on and do it again. I have come off my sled countless times.”
The next Summer Youth Olympic Games will be held in August this year in Nanjing, China. In 2016, the Winter Youth Olympic Games will be held in Lillehammer, Norway.
– Australian Olympic Committee