Press Release
One of the most anticipated events of the Innsbruck Games for the Australian Winter Youth Olympic Team was 15-year-old Chantelle Kerry's figure skating long program.
Despite the pressure of the big event, Kerry delivered an almost flawless routine to finish 10th overall and deliver three season's best scores in as many days after performing well in her short program on Sunday.
"I thought I'd made a couple of mistakes so I didn't think I'd get that score but I'm really happy that I got a season's best again," Kerry said after her long program.
Kerry may not have had the higher difficulty tricks of some of her competitors, but she was one of the most mesmerising athletes on ice.
"I'm very happy with my performance tonight. The best part was after I landed my triple loop. It felt a little off but I landed it so I'm really happy."
"I can't even describe being here. I've never done anything like this before and to have this opportunity, well, I can't even say how it feels in words," Kerry said.
Proud mum and coach Monica MacDonald who represented Australia in figure skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics, was beaming after her daughter's performance.
"I am so proud of her. I think every athlete dreams that if they make it to an Olympics they actually have a personal best and for her to put that out on both programs is just amazing," MacDonald said.
Now having tasted the five rings at the Youth Olympics, Kerry is setting her radar on representing Australia at a senior Olympics.
"I'm going to keep training really hard and I'm going to make it!" she said.
At the picturesque Seefeld Arena, huge crowds poured in to watch the cross country classic.
Sydneysider Lucy Glanville, 17, placed 34th and Victorian Alex Gibson, 17, finished 44th.
For Glanville, it was all about racing in the green and gold.
"It's such an honour. I've never had an Australian uniform like this before, it's really exciting and I was really proud to represent my country," Glanville said after the race.
The cross country pair was thrilled to be out racing in stunning conditions on a perfectly groomed course with the crowd of their lives before them.
"Being from Australia I guess we don't really have a strong cross country culture, so representing your country at something like this is just amazing," Gibson said.
Glanville and Gibson return to Seefeld for the sprint race in two days time.
On Wednesday, Greta Small returns to the alpine hill at Patscherkofel for the Giant Slalom and she knows the ability and form are there to push for at least another top 10 finish.
The Wangaratta born, resident of Perth and Austria was ninth in the Super G and then 13th in the Super Combined earlier at the Games. Now the nerves are gone she is relaxed and ready to fire up and let her skis get the cheer squad boisterous.
