BORMIO, Italy – After Francis Ceccarelli crashed out in the men’s slalom, Tallulah Proulx competes in the women’s side Wednesday as the Philippines wraps up its short campaign in the 25th Winter Olympics here.
Proulx, the first Filipina competitor in the Winter Olympics and at 17 one of the youngest in the field, will return to the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center in Cortina for a morning run and hopefully a second one.
Proulx saw action in giant slalom last Sunday, finishing 52nd out of 76 entries with an aggregate time of 2:41.62. She clocked 1:17.15 in the morning then 1:24.47 in the afternoon.
It was a commendable finish for Proulx for her age. The gold winner in the event, Federica Brignone of Italy at 2:13.50, is already 35 years old, and the silver medalist, Sara Hector of Sweden, at 2:14.12, is 32.
“I’m looking forward to my next event. I’m excited,” said Proulx, who was born in the United States. She added that she can’t wait to make her first visit to the Philippines.
The Philippines, a tropical country with just a handful of man-made ice sports facilities, first competed in the Winter Olympics in 1972 in Japan, but is in its fourth straight stint since 2014 in Russia.
The Philippine Olympic Committee under Abraham Tolentino and the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Patrick Gregorio both hailed Ceccarelli and Proulx for qualifying to these Games.
Ceccarelli had a decent finish in the giant slalom Saturday, landing 54th among 81 entries, and fourth best among Asians. But he couldn’t handle the rough conditions in his last event Monday.
The temperature dropped to minus-seven degrees in the morning and the entire Stelvio Ski Centre was covered in snow.
Visibility was so poor. It was so testy that after the morning run, the field of 96 was almost cut in half.
By the end of the day, only 39 skiers were able to finish. Lucas Pinheiro, who ruled the giant slalom and gave Brazil its first gold medal in the Winter Olympics, were among those who crashed out in the morning.
Loic Meillard of Sweden, bronze winner in giant slalom, came back strong to win the gold with an aggregate time of 1:53.62, Fabio Gstrein of Austria the silver at 1:53.96 and Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway at 1:54.74.
Five others bombed out in the afternoon session. In the slalom races of alpine skiing, entries must finish two runs, with their combined clockings determining their placing.
Ceccarelli, born in Quezon City and now based in Italy, came out strong, and managed to get past 10 of at 55 gates, which are tighter and closer compared to giant slalom, before he fell to his right.
“This sport is not very easy. Slalom is really difficult. But next time, I will work harder,” said Ceccarelli, adding the conditions in the morning were harsh but never really complained.
“I’m really happy. But this sport is very hard,” said Ceccarelli, who is based in Abetone In Tuscany with his Italian parents. Up next for the 22-year-old is a tournament in Turkey next month.
