PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 22: Connor Wilson of South Africa crashes during the Men's Slalom on day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Centre on February 22, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Home » South Africa’s Winter Olympian Connor Wilson Will Be Back

South Africa’s Winter Olympian Connor Wilson Will Be Back

A whirlwind Winter Olympics under his belt, South Africa’s Connor Wilson is back at his United States base and already looking ahead. Twenty-one-year-old Wilson failed to finish either of his two events – the giant slalom and the slalom – in his debut Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. And he says the fact that […]

By Guest Contributor
28-02-18 18:16
in South African Expats
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 22: Connor Wilson of South Africa crashes during the Men's Slalom on day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Centre on February 22, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

A whirlwind Winter Olympics under his belt, South Africa’s Connor Wilson is back at his United States base and already looking ahead.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 22: Connor Wilson of South Africa crashes during the Men’s Slalom on day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Centre on February 22, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Twenty-one-year-old Wilson failed to finish either of his two events – the giant slalom and the slalom – in his debut Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

And he says the fact that he crashed in the giant slalom event last Thursday impacted on his Games.

‘Yes, there was certainly pressure after my DNF in the giant slalom,’ he told Team SA. ‘I was expecting to finish reasonably in the slalom as it is my stronger event and I’m able to train slalom more often.

‘I was actually halfway down the run when I noticed a gate missing, which threw me off slightly. I lost focus for a second and crashed out of the course. When I noticed that I was able to get back into the course, I quickly hiked back up to where I had skied out.

‘Once back in the course, I only made it two more gates before straddling a gate (getting the gate between my legs), which caused my ski to come off and me to crash.

‘All I remember was my ski coming off and face planting into the slope. When I finally came to a stop, I just remember feeling pain in my hip, but luckily I was later told in the emergency room that nothing was broken.’

Reflecting on PyeongChang, he’s still hugely grateful for the experience. ‘I’ve never skied in a competition as difficult as the Olympics. It was an experience I learned a lot from and will remember for the rest of my life. I now know what it takes to compete successfully in the Olympics and I’ll work as hard as I can in preparation for the next one in Beijing, Japan in 2022.’

South Africans will also be rooting for Sive Speelman (22) to make it to the Olympics in 2022. The passionate skier from Barkley East in the Eastern Cape was recently featured on Carte Blanche. He qualified in 2014, but SASCOC wouldn’t send him. He qualified again this year… but was sent as a ‘technical official’ so that he could gain “valuable experience”. (If you’re a South African abroad – you can watch this and other Carte Blanche broadcasts two days after they air in SA if you’re a Showmax subscriber.)

Mainly sourced: Teamsa.co.za