Alpine skiing: Five future faces

Mac Marcoux will try to win big again next year on his home snow at the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships.

1. Alexey Bugaev (Russia)

No youngster was more impressive at Sochi 2014 than this 16-year-old, who won an astounding five medals – including two golds – in his Paralympic debut in the men’s standing class. He won gold in the slalom and super-combined, silver in the downhill and giant slalom, and bronze in the super-G. It is scary to think of what he is capable of on the slopes in the years to come.

2. Anna-Lena Forster (Germany)

At 18 years old, she won silver in the women’s slalom and super-combined sitting events and bronze in the giant slalom at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre. Born without a right leg and missing bones in her left leg, Forster will now try to challenge compatriot Anna Schaffelhuber – who won five Sochi 2014 golds – in the next Paralympic cycle.

3. Mac Marcoux (Canada)

Winning gold in the men’s giant slalom visually impaired and bronze medals in the downhill and super-G was a great way to kick-star the career of this 16-year-old. And to think that he did this all with replacement guide Robin Femy is incredible. His original guide was his brother B.J., who had to withdraw from Sochi 2014 the week prior due to back problems. With the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships headed to Canada, expect Marcoux to make the headlines again next season on his home snow.

4. Stephanie Jallen (USA)

The women’s super-G standing victory ceremony in Sochi is easily one of the most memorable, as this 18-year-old leapt onto the podium, threw her crutch down and brought a tear to the eye of everybody in the crowd. Jallen, who won bronze in both the super-combined and super-G standing events in Sochi, lives by the motto “Rather than fear the storm ahead, learn to dance in the rain.” It is most likely we will see her dancing often on the podium again in the upcoming years.

5. Ilma Kazazic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

While this 15-year-old did not make the podium in either of her alpine skiing standing events, she was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony and in the future will look to become her country’s first-ever female Paralympic medallist at either a Summer or Winter Games.