Freestyle Skiing

PARIS - Olympic competition runs in the blood of French world champion Ophelie David who aims to take gold in the new freestyle event of ski-cross at the Vancouver Games.

The 33-year-old mother is no stranger to the Winter Olympics.

At the 1994 Games, she competed in the alpine skiing events of slalom and combined in Lillehammer, but failed to finish.

Back then she competed for her native Hungary under the name Ophelie Racz.

Her father Jean Racz, is a former Olympic basketball player who competed for Hungary at the 1964 Tokyo Games, before he eventually moved the family to France where he played professional basketball.

David made history last week when she became the first skiier to win four X-Games titles at Aspen, Colorado, but come what may in Canada, she recognises her priorities.

"My life is my daughter (10-year-old) Lilou. She is the most important," said David, who will be making the journey to Canada a family affair.

"She will be in Vancouver with all the family because
eight weeks apart would be unbearable."

David is also keen to prove that the frantic sport of ski-cross, which features four riders on the course at the same time, navigating jumps and turns, is not just the preserve of the younger girls.

Despite being older than Canadian rivals like Kelsey Serwa (20) and Ashleigh McIvor (26), who will be on homeground at the Games, the French girl believes her speed and courage stands up to the sternest examination.

"I don't want to go to the Olympics to be second or third. You have to be the player. In our discipline, with direct competition, the risk of a fall is never far away."