_
_
_
_
_
SKIING

Spain’s Olympic skiing hope Ruiz returns to slopes

Sochi success in sights of downhill winner at Méribel

Juan José Mateo
Carolina Ruiz in action at Méribel.
Carolina Ruiz in action at Méribel.ALAIN GROSCLAUDE (GETTY IMAGES)

Carolina Ruiz, who became the first Spanish woman to win a World Cup downhill event at Méribel earlier this year, returns to the slopes for the 2014 season to compete in the giant slalom at Sölden, Austria, this Saturday (from 9.15am, Eurosport).

And it’s not just any year: the 31-year-old, who finished last year with a back problem, has her sights firmly set on next February’s Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, dreaming of carrying the flag for Spain and fighting for the medals.

“The aim is to be good at the Olympic Games,” says Mark Tilston, Ruiz’s Scottish coach. “What has changed is that Carolina now knows she can do it, she can win. Believing is not the same as knowing. She has already done a lot of work with psychologists.

“Our plan is clear: to give priority to the downhill, because it is where she has the most chances of a medal at the Games. That’s why we have done quite a lot of strength work. We have focused on speed,” Tilston adds.

With no other Spanish women at her level, Ruiz is obliged to share practice sessions and expenses with skiers from other nations. She did preseason training in Chillán in Chile and Ushuaia in Argentina with a group of French skiers and also trained with Norwegian men Kjetil Jansrud — silver medalist in the giant slalom at the 2010 Vancouver Games — and Aksel Lund Svindal, a double World Cup winner, Olympic gold medalist and five-times world champion.

Recomendaciones EL PAÍS
Recomendaciones EL PAÍS
_
_