Team GB flagbearer Katie Summerhayes from Sheffield put in an impressive performance in the ski halfpipe qualification at Kuhtai in Austria, to secure her place in Sunday’s final with the fifth highest score of 55.50 in her first run. She followed up with a consistent second run score of 54.75.
After the event she said, “I’m really pleased with how my two runs went today. It’s a great feeling to be out representing Great Britain and to be in the final is a dream come true. The competition here is great, all the skiers are so good, but the atmosphere is so nice, we’re all friends and we all ski better as a result.
“All my family and some of my old coaches were up in the crowd supporting me and to see so many GB flags waving was a great feeling. Now I’ll get a good night’s sleep and prepare for tomorrow where hopefully I can get on the podium with a bit of improvement. There are things for me to work on.”
Meanwhile in the Alpine skiing at Patscherkofel, Team GB’s Rachelle Rogers from Hampshire, finished 24th respectively in the women’s Super G event. Rogers crossed the line in a time of 1 min 11.05 seconds, 5.27 seconds behind the winner Estelle Alphand of France.
Rogers said, “I’m really happy that I’ve made it down my first run in the Youth Olympics. I was quite nervous before the race but once I was on the start line I was ready to go. I wanted to finish in the top-30 so 24th is really great.
“Super G is my weakest discipline so today was really about building my confidence and getting used to the piste for my stronger events. I would say my strongest event is the slalom which is my last event here, so I’m hoping to save my best for last!”
Team GB’s mixed curling team of Duncan Menzies, Angharad Ward, Thomas Muirhead and Rachel Hannen had to wait to make their Youth Olympic debuts after their match against hosts Austria was rescheduled to Tuesday following a fault with the ice machine early this morning.
In the afternoon they faced a strong Sweden team and never recovered from going four behind in the first end. Despite mounting a sustained comeback and winning the next two ends, they ultimately lost 6-4 at the conclusion of the eight end match.
Britain’s curlers will be looking to bounce back from their opening match defeat to Sweden when they face Germany and Canada at the Innsbruck Exhibition Centre. In the Alpine skiing Team GB’s Paul Henderson and Rachelle Rogers will contest the Super Combined event.
Team GB ice dancers Millie Paterson and Edward Carstairs will make their Youth Olympic debuts when they perform their short routine at the Olympiaworld Stadium.
Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
