Alexander: Skiing conditions very tough in Beijing
Published:Monday | February 7, 2022 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Ben Alexander, Jamaica’s first Olympic alpine skier, who shared flag-bearing duties with bobsledder Yazmine Fenlator-Victorian at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in China on Friday, said it was an honour to be granted the opportunity.
The 38 year-old United Kingdom-born skier, who bows into action on February 13 (February 12 in Jamaica), said the skiing conditions are extremely difficult but he is eagerly awaiting the start of the competition.
“It (flag-bearer) was an absolute honour. I am only one of a few to have ever done so at a Winter Games, so to be given the honour of carrying the flag is incredible.
“This is also the Jamaica Olympic Association’s nod to the fact that we need more sports representation. We need to expand our horizons and increase our chances of getting a medal,” he commented.
Alexander has already tested the conditions in training and it has proved to be unusually difficult, and, with the competition he is due to face, he is just hoping to not finish at the back of the pack.
“The conditions are the hardest I have ever skied on in my life. It is incredibly tough, insanely tough. So this is not easy as it is an incredibly competitive sport.
“But I cannot wait to get into the start gate and compete, although I want to make it very clear ... there is absolutely zero chance of getting a medal,” he said.
He noted that the gulf between the top competitors and minnows of the sport is very big and the gap can only be bridged by years of top-level competition and training.
“The competition (athletes) is the best in the world. They have had millions of dollars invested in their advancement over the past 15 to 20 years. I have only been racing two years and only been skiing six years ago.
“The International Olympic Committee set a lenient standard in order to get more countries represented at the Games. The minimum qualification standard is nowhere near the standard of the top skiers. So there is no chance of getting a medal,” he said.
“Coming out of the woodwork are at least a half a dozen (Jamaican) athletes that I will be helping and mentoring for the next Olympics and beyond. This is the beginning of the story. It’s about helping Jamaicans know it is possible.
“I will be competing on February 13 in giant slalom, which consists of combined times of two runs. Those runs will be three hours apart. But it is not about my performance and results, because I will be at the back and will be lucky to get two or three places ahead of the last guy out of 80 people,” he predicted.