CORMAC COMERFORD FINISHED 16 spots higher than his bib ranking suggested in the men’s giant slalom event at the Winter Olympic Games in Bormio today.
The event was won by Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, making him the first ever athlete from South America to medal at the winter iteration of the Games.
He stopped a Swiss podium takeover but silver and bronze did go to Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt and Loïc Meillard respectively.
The giant slalom discipline is one of four alpine skiing events Comerford is participating in and sees competitors travel for about 90 seconds downhill between gates twice (the times are then added together). The track has wider curves compared to the special slalom, and the gates are used to mark the course instead of poles.
The 29-year-old Dubliner finished 42nd out of a starting field of 81, with 12 skiers not crossing the finish line.
“I think there was more time to be gained, of course,” Comerford told reporters after his second run.
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“As racers, we want to get every inch out of it, but I can be satisfied – from 58 to 42, I’ll take it.”
On the first run, the Dubliner survived an early scare when his forearm guard got caught in a gate on the Stelvio slope to finish in 46th place (out of 81) with a time of 1.24.42, just over 10 seconds off the Brazilian leader.
Comerford had to be told by journalists when he crossed the finish line that he had lost his equipment on an early gate.
“I didn’t even notice,” he said, looking quizzically at his hand.
“I was going full gas,” he added with a laugh.
Despite having the added challenge of locating a new guard and “a couple of technical errors on the right foot”, the Olympian was satisfied with his first turn down the slope.
“The placing is alright. I’ve jumped up at least 10 spots so that’s nice,” he said.
“There’s a lot of time to be gained, though. I was just catching a feeling there. The conditions are really good, so there is nothing to lose on the second run.”
After three runs down Stelvio, Comerford was also relieved that concerns about how his own body would hold up were assuaged.
“I thought I’d be a bit more tight at the end,” he said. “So I’m happy with my form after all the Super G and downhill.”
“I knew it would be a challenge to recover well, so I’m just glad that the physical shape is there.”
Family and friends made the journey to north Italy for the second half of his busy Olympic experience and were on the snow as he came down today.
“I heard the crowd going – I’d say they got them all hyped up,” he said of the freshly landed Irish contingent.
“I don’t know exactly where they were standing, but I heard them when I was coming down. Probably not what you should be hearing when you’re in the middle of your Olympic run but, ah, they’re great.
“It’s nice that I’m able to share it with them. Most of them have never seen me race before, so this is their first experience of ski racing – they’re in for a treat.”
Comerford’s next and final event is his preferred slalom on Monday.
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Taking to the start line, he’ll have completed his first goal of the season: to compete in all four disciplines
The second goal is to get a top 30 placing.
“My points are much better in the slalom so I should have a better starting bib,” he said of the challenge today.
“I’m feeling good, I haven’t done a huge amount but I’ve kept up enough training to feel confident enough. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a push, still. I’m gunning for it – and it’s the last event. I’ve been able to keep my focus. It’s been kind of a good thing to have that right at the end.
“I’ve been topped up, got the energy and the adrenaline and the focus up all the way.”
Written by Sinead O’Carroll and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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Cormac Comerford climbs another few places to finish 42nd in giant slalom
LAST UPDATE | 15 mins ago
CORMAC COMERFORD FINISHED 16 spots higher than his bib ranking suggested in the men’s giant slalom event at the Winter Olympic Games in Bormio today.
The event was won by Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, making him the first ever athlete from South America to medal at the winter iteration of the Games.
He stopped a Swiss podium takeover but silver and bronze did go to Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt and Loïc Meillard respectively.
The giant slalom discipline is one of four alpine skiing events Comerford is participating in and sees competitors travel for about 90 seconds downhill between gates twice (the times are then added together). The track has wider curves compared to the special slalom, and the gates are used to mark the course instead of poles.
The 29-year-old Dubliner finished 42nd out of a starting field of 81, with 12 skiers not crossing the finish line.
“I think there was more time to be gained, of course,” Comerford told reporters after his second run.
“As racers, we want to get every inch out of it, but I can be satisfied – from 58 to 42, I’ll take it.”
On the first run, the Dubliner survived an early scare when his forearm guard got caught in a gate on the Stelvio slope to finish in 46th place (out of 81) with a time of 1.24.42, just over 10 seconds off the Brazilian leader.
Comerford had to be told by journalists when he crossed the finish line that he had lost his equipment on an early gate.
“I didn’t even notice,” he said, looking quizzically at his hand.
“I was going full gas,” he added with a laugh.
Despite having the added challenge of locating a new guard and “a couple of technical errors on the right foot”, the Olympian was satisfied with his first turn down the slope.
“The placing is alright. I’ve jumped up at least 10 spots so that’s nice,” he said.
“There’s a lot of time to be gained, though. I was just catching a feeling there. The conditions are really good, so there is nothing to lose on the second run.”
After three runs down Stelvio, Comerford was also relieved that concerns about how his own body would hold up were assuaged.
“I thought I’d be a bit more tight at the end,” he said. “So I’m happy with my form after all the Super G and downhill.”
“I knew it would be a challenge to recover well, so I’m just glad that the physical shape is there.”
Family and friends made the journey to north Italy for the second half of his busy Olympic experience and were on the snow as he came down today.
“I heard the crowd going – I’d say they got them all hyped up,” he said of the freshly landed Irish contingent.
“I don’t know exactly where they were standing, but I heard them when I was coming down. Probably not what you should be hearing when you’re in the middle of your Olympic run but, ah, they’re great.
“It’s nice that I’m able to share it with them. Most of them have never seen me race before, so this is their first experience of ski racing – they’re in for a treat.”
Comerford’s next and final event is his preferred slalom on Monday.
Taking to the start line, he’ll have completed his first goal of the season: to compete in all four disciplines
The second goal is to get a top 30 placing.
“My points are much better in the slalom so I should have a better starting bib,” he said of the challenge today.
“I’m feeling good, I haven’t done a huge amount but I’ve kept up enough training to feel confident enough. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a push, still. I’m gunning for it – and it’s the last event. I’ve been able to keep my focus. It’s been kind of a good thing to have that right at the end.
“I’ve been topped up, got the energy and the adrenaline and the focus up all the way.”
Written by Sinead O’Carroll and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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Alpine Skiing Bormio cormac comerford Giant Slalom Ireland Italy Skiing Winter Olympics