GB star Daisi relishes her first taste of Olympic experience
A TALENTED young skier has hailed her ‘amazing experience’ after competing for Team GB at the Sarajevo 2019 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival.
Daisi Daniels, from Rochdale, finished 25th in her first slalom on Monday, February 11, and 34th in the giant slalom on Wednesday, February 13.
The 16-year-old was part of a 27-strong team in Bosnia & Herzegovina, in what is Europe’s largest multi-sport event, and provides aspiring Olympians with their first multi-sport experience.
Speaking about her Team GB participation, Daisi said: “It’s been an amazing experience and it’s been amazing to learn about other sports.
“I’m used to my sport and don’t normally get the chance to meet other people from winter sports, so it’s been nice to bond and learn about all the other sports here.
“It’s been great to be able to watch, support your teammates in action.
“I tried to be a friendly face around here and get to know as many people as possible. It’s nice in the future to know that you’re able to contact anyone you’ve met and teach them your sport or theirs to me.
“It’s amazing being able to mix with all the other countries as well – especially when swapping pin badges. Without a smaller version (of the Olympics) you’d be a bit overwhelmed if you ever went to a Winter Olympics, especially if you haven’t had a chance to bond with anyone in a team, not only from your sport but from others too.”
Daisi said her confidence has been boosted by praise from other coaches and found racing against top girls in the sport to be a ‘definite learning curve.’
She said: “Recently it’s been harder for me to do well in a race compared to training, so it’s more me trying to get my training mindset into a race.
“When you’re in your full suit, bib and you know that you’ve got to go at a certain time and against the clock, there’s pressure.
“But I’m working on it and I’m hoping that in the next races I do, I’ll get better and better.”