OLYMPICS: Ski Cross Star Flisar Has Medal Hopes
Ljubljana, 6 February - The best Slovenian freestyle skier Filip Flisar was placed among the medal favourites at the Winter Olympics in Sochi ahead of the season, which he failed to back up with good results. The 26-year-old from Maribor, who won the World Cup in ski cross two years ago, is however still hopeful that he can win his first Olympic medal.
Ljubljana
Slovenian freestyle skier Filip Flisar
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA
"If I did not believe in this, I would not be going to Russia. This is my lifetime wish. I will do everything I can and then see what happens," said Flisar, who started as Alpine skier in fast disciplines.
He is not bothered by the bad results in the current season as he believes he has figured out what was wrong. "I saw some progress in the last World Cup race, the skiing has improved strongly, so I can be calmer now."
Flisar is satisfied with the track prepared for the upcoming Olympics. "It fits me perfectly. It is long, technically difficult, the jumps are high, it does not allow luck to be the decisive factor."
The only Slovenian representative in freestyle skiing in Sochi will be looking to improve on his eighth place in ski cross at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He has been projected to win bronze in the discipline by the Swiss sports agency Infostrada.
He personally believes that the main favourites are Canadian Chris Delbosco, American John Teller and Swede Victor Oehling Norberg, and is glad that Swiss Michael Schmid will not be defending his gold from Vancouver.
Flisar debuted in the World Cup in the 2007-08 season. In January 2012 in Alpe d'Huez he had his first World Cup victory, and won two more World Cup races in that season to grab the overall first place in ski cross in the 2011-12 season.
At the 2011 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Deer Valley, he took 11th place in the men's ski cross, while at the Winter X Games in Aspen in 2012 he was second in the same discipline.
By the number of wins in the Ski Cross World Cup, Flisar is currently at 7th place in all time rankings.