Sami Kennedy-Sim fought her way from 30th in qualifying to narrowly miss a podium finish in the last World Cup before the cut-off date for next month’s Sochi Olympic Winter Games.
FREESTYLE-SKI CROSS: Sami Kennedy-Sim fought her way from 30th in qualifying to narrowly miss a podium finish in the last World Cup before the cut-off date for next month’s Sochi Olympic Winter Games.
Competing in Val Thorens, France, Kennedy-Sim ended the day with the best World Cup result of her career, in her first appearance in a World Cup final - behind the the big guns of the sport - Canadian Marielle Thompson, Switzerland’s Katrin Mueller in second and Frenchwoman Ophelie David in third.
The Australian finished fourth overall to record a confidence boosting result, with just 20 days to go to the opening of the Sochi Games in Russia and two days before the Sochi qualification cut-off date.
Although Kennedy-Sim was 3.8 seconds slower than the fastest qualifier, which placed her in the last few athletes to make the 32- woman finals draw, Kennedy-Sim displayed determination and impressive speed throughout day two of the double header in France.
She skied strategically in the first knock out round and again in the quarter-finals before turning on an even more impressive performance in the semi-finals, finishing second to Thompson and earning a place in her first World Cup final.
The 25-year-old, who was off skis for a few months after suffering a minor stroke in April 2013, has recaptured the form that enabled her to finish the 2011/2012 season with a world ranking of 11. She was headed towards second place in the final but unfortunately she went wide on the last turn before the finish line, which washed off precious speed.
With just 200 metres to race, Kennedy-Sim was overtaken for a place on the podium but she retains the confidence from bettering her previous best place in World Cup, a fifth in Canada in February 2012.
Ski Cross program head coach Matt Lyons said that Kennedy-Sim's performance was a strong result.
“She can take a lot of confidence away from the day. She started each of her heats well. She was pretty much the fastest out in every heat and skied the top section really aggressively and really well.
"She maintained her position when she was being challenged by others. She did a good job.”
Fellow squad member Jenny Owens was 23rd and Katya Crema was 26th, with both athletes unable to go further into the draw than the first final.
Australia’s only male in the event, Anton Grimus, who was the fastest qualifier on day one, was 17th after finishing third in a knock out final.
The men’s event was won by American John Teller, while Sweden’s Victor Oehling Norberg was second and Canadian David Duncan third.
The squad will continue their World Cup season in Kreischberg, Austria, next weekend.
