Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Cypriot Olympic skier Andrea Loizidou did not finish her first run in the women’s slalom at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday, ending her participation in challenging conditions at the Tofane alpine skiing centre. Under Olympic rules, only those who finish the first run are eligible to contest the afternoon’s second round.
Run ends without a time
Starting with bib number 95, the 19-year-old from Limassol failed to complete the opening run and recorded no time. Later runners included athletes from non-snow nations such as Madagascar, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
High attrition on the course
Loizidou’s result mirrored earlier high attrition rates on the same course, where nearly half the field did not finish the men’s slalom on Monday. The slalom remains one of the sport’s most unpredictable events, with weather and course conditions continuing to test the field.
Comments ahead of Olympic debut
Earlier in the week, Loizidou said she felt prepared for her Olympic debut, stating, “I feel as ready as I could be,” and highlighting work with her coach to prepare “without exhausting myself”. She also said, “I do not expect the impossible from myself, I have made a very great effort in recent months, and I hope for the best”.
Cyprus participation concludes
Wednesday’s result brought to a close Cyprus’s alpine skiing participation at the Milan‑Cortina Games, following teammate Yiannos Kouyoumdjian’s 34th‑place finish in the men’s slalom on Tuesday.
What do you think the challenging course conditions at Tofane reveal about the unpredictability of slalom racing?
