PyeongChang 2018: Henrieta Farkasova hungry for glory

“There are still days to work hard and improve some technical aspects. I need to be more dynamic, more active in the runs.”

If Henrieta Farkasova maintains her level, few will bet against her performing a clean sweep at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

The Slovakian alpine skier has had a stunning World Cup season in 2017-18, retaining the Crystal Globe and proving to be the woman to beat in the vision impaired category going into the Winter Games.

Farkasova won three races in Kuhtai, Austria, one in Zagreb, Croatia, two in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, two in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, and one in Kimberley, Canada.

“It has definitely been a very good season for me in terms of how I am reaching the Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang,” she said.

She already has good form on the PyeongChang slopes, winning all five of her events at the Test Event, the same slopes she will compete on for Paralympic gold in just two weeks’ time.

Now, she is hopeful of achieving her best performance ever at a Winter Games. But at the same time, Farkasova prefers to be cautious.

“There are still days to work hard and improve some technical aspects,” she said. “I need to be more dynamic, more active in the runs.”

Farkasova made her Paralympic debut at Vancouver 2010, winning three golds and one silver. She followed that up with two golds and one bronze at Sochi 2014.

She suffered a knee injury while competing in Austria in 2014 and could not return to the slopes until two and a half years later.

But the setback did nothing to deter Farkasova. On the contrary, she has been the dominant force in the women’s vision impaired category together with guide Natalia Subrtova.

In January 2017, she enjoyed the best World Championships of her career in Tarvisio, Italy, winning four golds and one silver.

Farkasova also secured 12 World Cup wins to finish first in the overall rankings and claim the coveted Crystal Globe that she went on to defend this year.

The Paralympic Winter Games take place in PyeongChang, South Korea from 9-18 March. Tickets can be purchased here.