Alpine skiing-Zahrobska's victory is a family affair

17.02.2007 | , Reuters
Zpravodajství ČTK


perex-img Zdroj: Finance.cz

By Martyn Herman...

...

ARE, Sweden, Alpine skiing has another gold medal-winning father and daughter combination after Sarka Zahrobska became the Czech Republic's first world champion in the sport on Friday.

The tall skier from the town of Benecko beat Austrian slalom specialist Marlies Schild and Swedish triple gold medallist Anja Paerson to the top step of the podium.

Paerson, Sweden's most successful skier at world championships, is coached by her father Anders, but it was another skiing dad who was the first to offer his good wishes.

"Ante (Kostelic) rang me up to congratulate us, he was the first person to call," Petr Zahrobska told reporters.

Croatian four-times Olympic gold medallist Janica Kostelic, currently out of action, is coached by her father Ante and Petr Zahrobska said they often talked on the phone or over a beer.

"Most of the time we have to train in Austria. We've met a few times on the glacier. My son Petr also trains with Ivica (Kostelic) and we sometimes meet up there and talk," he said.

"I also know Anders (Paerson). Sometimes we talk but that's normal between fathers."

Like Kostelic, Zahrobska comes from a country with no Alpine skiing tradition, meaning the 22-year-old's route to the top has been unconventional.

"I began teaching Sarka to ski using old ski text books," said her father. "I realised when she was about 14 that she could really become a top skier.

"We are a small team, just three of us, but I think that is perfect for one girl."

Sarka was quick to thank her father for helping her get to the pinnacle of the sport.

"This success is not just for me but for my small team," she said. "Especially my family because in the beginning it was very difficult and hard for us. Today is unbelievable.

"My father is very important because he got me on skis when I was two and he goes everywhere with me.

"My father is the most important for me, and my brother, and we train all together."

Zahrobska won her country's first world championship medal two years ago in Bormio, Italy, and her performance here suggests she is capable of becoming a major force.

"It is the perfect system for us," Petr said of a team which consists of himself, a physiotherapist and sometimes a couple of technicians.

"I know exactly what she needs. If I sent her to another coach her performance would go down. It's about training with the heart for us. We are looking at results not at money.

"We are always going step by step and this is one more step.

"She will continue to do giant slalom and combined but we won't let her do downhill because you get too many accidents and when you only have one girl I must be very careful." ((Editing by Clare Fallon, London Sports Desk; Reuters Messaging: clare.fallon.reuters.com@reuters.net; +44 20 7542 7933))

Keywords: ALPINE SKIING WORLD/ZAHROBSKA

[Reuters/Finance.cz]

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