The Sochi Winter Olympics might be making headlines for all the wrong reasons, but as Australia’s largest contingent begin to arrive in Russia this week, the gaze will rightfully be falling on them. Cypriot Australian Lydia Lassila (née Ierodiaconou) is one of Australia’s best hopes for a medal, defending her 2010 Winter Olympics title in aerial skiing.
The four-time Olympian has come from just winning a gold medal at the FIS Alpine World Cup in Canada and says she’s ready to beat the world’s best in Sochi.
Her main opposition at the Games will be Chinese skier Mengtao Xu, one of three women who have mastered Lassila’s impressive ‘full-double-full-full’ flip, a three flip and four twist trick that has for a long time only been achieved by men.
Security fears have rattled athletes and organisers, but just a week before the opening ceremony next Saturday, organising committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko says Sochi is “fully ready” and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations.
“I can assure you that Sochi will be among the most security-friendly games and all the procedures will be very gentle and smooth,” he said this week.
Russia is deploying more than 50,000 police and soldiers to guard the Olympics.
Referring to the Russian law banning gay ‘propaganda’ among minors, Chernyshenko repeated assurances that Russia will not discriminate against anyone at the Olympics on the basis of sexual orientation.
55 Australian athletes will compete in Sochi, up from 40 in Vancouver.
