Petrac overcomes adversity and wins big

8 years ago, USA’s Nancy Bonura won the bronze medal for downhill alpine skiing. Today, she attempted to bring the gold home with her. With 57.71, Bonura had the best time for a while until Czech Republic’s Petra Kurkova finished at 56.07 and won the gold. There were some concerns in the beginning because when Kurkova went on her original run, she was not timed. Kurvova had to make the run again and the spectators wondered if her first run would be better than her second attempt. Neverthless, she still won the best time and brought home the gold. Austria’s Nicoletta Lenzenwoger came in third with 58.29. A total of 23 women from 10 countries particpated in the downhill race.

As for the men’s team, 10 countries with 27 particpants in the race. Slovenia’s Samo Petrac won the gold. Finishing the race at 54.52, Petrac has come a long way to win this gold medal. Diagnosed with cancer 2 years ago, he was still determined to participate in the games here at Davos. It wasn‘t until last Jan when the doctors decided he could particpate in the games. With only two months left before the games, he didn’t have much time for training. He explained that winning the race is all in the mind not because of physical skills. With his last chemotherapy treatment 3 weeks ago, he is proud of his achievement. Italy’s Aaron Nider finished second at 54.61 and Austria’s Phillip Perchtold went for third at 54.72

 

Alpine: Women’s Downhill
Rank - Standing - Name - Number - Nation - Final Time
1  1 Kurkova Petra 73 CZE 56.07
2  2 Bonura Nancy 63 USA 57.71
3  11 Lenzenwöger, Nicoletta 66 AUT 58.29
4  10 Kato Michiyo 68 JPN 58.52
5  14 Besio Marcella 76 ITA 58.64
6  7 Dunkley Jessica 79 CAN 58.68
7  20 Meglic Lojzka 71 SLO 58.69
8  4 Kaneko Naomi 80 JPN 59.15
9  9 Hmelina Sabina 67 SLO 59.26
10  16 Kneissl Nadia 76 GER 59.36
11  3 Lenzenwöger Marlene 72 AUT 59.78
12  19 Rousseau Danielle 66 CAN 59.79
13  17 Ungerova Gabriela 70 ITA 59.84
13  13 Eicker Andrea 78 GER 59.84
15  18 Benaissa Senda 69 USA 1:00.25
16  21 Uhrova Lucie 74 CZE 1:01.28
17  6 Pelletier Delphine 83 FRA 1:01.37
18  8 Stäheli, Chantal 65 SUI 1:01.89
19  23 Schnalzger Britta 80 GER 1:02.00
20  5 Pelletier Melanie 82 FRA 1:02.20
21  15 Panska Vendula 76 CZE 1:02.24
22  12 Fuscher Nicole 80 SUI 1:03.39
23  22 Fuchs Christine 73 GER 1:04,79

 

Alpine: Men’s Downhill
Rank - Standing - Name - Nation - Final Time
1  34  Petrac Samo 74 SLO       54.52
2  53  Nider Aaron 79 ITA       54.61
3  48  Perchtold Philipp 79 AUT      54.72
4  36  Hütteger Karl 76 AUT        55.42
5  33  Lehoux Yann 73 CAN      55.87
6  31  Naz Emanuel 79 SUI      55.92
7  52  Larch Martin 66 ITA      56.02
8  46  Gross Michael 68 AUT     56.05
9  45  Santini Andrea 77 ITA      56.12
10  39  Schneider Roland70 SUI      56.17
11  38  Borzea Paul 83 ITA      56.28
12  47  McDonald Chester 73 USA 56.41
13  55  Favre Steve 78 SUI             56.53
14  42  Litherland Kenneth 63 USA 56.67
15  41  Weitgasser Bernd 66 GER 56.74
16  51  Lutz Herbert 68 GER             56.89
17  49  Schaupper Josef 63 AUT 57.06
18  43  Becherer Matthias 82 GER 57.18
19  50  Locher Werner 70 GER   57.21
20  44  Shimizu Masakazu 70 JPN 57.31
21  32  Matocvik Julius 77 SVK 57.72
22  57  Maruyama Osamu 68 JPN 57.82
23  40  Peletier David 78 FRA 57.92
24  56  Fornier Claude 59 SUI 58.95
25  35  Belley Bernard 65 CAN 58.99
26  54  Tamura Santoshi 65 JPN      59.80
27  37  Nakajimo Teruyuki 70 JPN 1:00.68