Sochi slope safety concerns no barrier to GB stars as snowboarders set to kick off Games
FOUR Great Britain snowboarders are set to compete in the opening event of the 2014 Winter Olympics this morning, despite concerns over the safety of the course in Sochi.
The Games were due to begin at 6am British time with snow-boarding slopestyle qualifying, on a course organisers made last-minute adjustments to after Norway’s Torstein Horgmo suffered a broken collarbone in practice on Monday.
American medal hopeful Shaun White withdrew from the competition yesterday, despite the reduction in height to all three jumps, citing safety concerns having injured his wrist in practice on Tuesday.
Britain’s Jenny Jones, winner of three Winter X Games gold medals, goes in the women’s qualification alongside 22-year-old compatriot Aimee Fuller. Billy Morgan and Jamie Nicholls are set to make their Winter Olympics debuts in men’s qualifying, with the former set to be the very first man on the slopes in Sochi.
Engaged figure skaters David King and Stacey Kemp, ranked 49th in the world, launch their Games campaign this afternoon.
King, 29 proposed to Kemp, 25 shortly after the closing ceremony of the 2010 Games in Vancouver, where the couple finished 16th in the team pairs short program.
Meanwhile, Team GB will be represented by 23-year-old Matthew Parr in the team men’s short program today. Parr finished 27th at this year’s European Championships in Hungary.