PYEONGCHANG, 15 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian women's freestyle skiing team can try more difficult jumps in the final, Team Belarus head coach Nikolai Kozeko told the NOC press service, BelTA has learned.
Two Belarusian athletes – Olympic champion Alla Tsuper and Anna Guskova – made it to the final that will take place on 16 February.
“We will review all our jumps in the qualifications and every performance of our athletes. If need be, the Belarusian freestyle skiers can take on a more difficult program,” Nikolai Kozeko emphasized.
Alexandra Romanovskaya is the only Belarusian freestyle skier who did not qualify for the final. “At the training session, the jump Alexandra failed today was perfect. However, some other strong rivals dropped out of the competition at the qualification stage too. Australia's Lydia Lassila, an Olympic and World champion, failed to reach the aerials finals,” the head coach added.
“Both jumps in the qualifications were great, everything went just as planned. There was no improvisation. After the first attempt, which was not very successful, I knew that I had to calm down and set myself up for the next one. Forget that I am an Olympic champion and start just like it was the first time. I am happy I nailed it. For me, the 2018 Winter Games are the sixth Olympic appearance. I have once etched my name into the Olympic history. Why not try to do it again?” Alla Tsuper said after the qualification event.
Anna Guskova qualified for the final at the first attempt. “I was dead set on reaching the final. I felt a bit nervous before the start, but I summoned up my courage and made the kind of jump I wanted,” the Belarusian athlete said.
The women's final will take place on 16 February at 14:00 (Belarusian time). Belarus 5 TV Channel will broadcast the event live at 13:55.
