PyeongChang 2018 Sport Weeks: Alpine Skiing Ones to Watch

With the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games just two months away, some of the biggest names in Para alpine skiing are hitting form at just the right time. As we continue the first of our PyeongChang 2018 Sport Weeks, here is a rundown of the key names you need to look out for on the slopes.

Marie Bochet, France

As an 18-time medallist at World Championships and a four-time Paralympic champion at just 23-years-old, Marie Bochet is hoping to continue making history at this year’s Paralympic Winter Games. Her start to the new season could not have been better as she won all four races at the opening World Cup in Kuhtai, Austria, and secured another win in Zagreb, Croatia.

Giacomo Bertagnolli, Italy

Had a promising start of the season with two victories at the season-opener in Kuhtai. In 2017, Bertagnolli won his first world title on home snow in Tarvisio, Italy, and achieved two other podium finishes. He also followed on from his overall World Cup win in 2015-16 with top three finishes in the super-G, super combined and slalom, alongside guide Fabrizio Casal.

Henrieta Farkasova, Slovakia

Aims to extend her supremacy in the visually impaired category, having won four golds and one silver at the World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, and ending as the 2016-2017 World Cup overall winner. She has shown top form at the beginning of the current season, securing four World Cup wins so far.

Claudia Loesch, Austria

With three Paralympic Winter Games under her belt, the alpine skiing veteran and two-time Paralympic champion is hoping to reach the podium once again at PyeongChang 2018. On paper, Loesch is one of the favourites for gold, especially after claiming two World titles in Tarvisio, Italy. She also launched the 2017/18 season with three wins at the two first World Cups.

Anna Schaffelhuber, Germany

After performing a clean sweep of all her five events at Sochi 2014, Schaffelhuber has shown no signs of slowing down, winning multiple World titles and World Cup races. Her rivalry with Loesch will most likely make the headlines again at PyeongChang 2018.

Jakub Krako, Slovakia

The four-time Paralympic gold medallist has delivered the best performances of his career at Paralympic Games, having won two golds at Vancouver 2010, and two more at Sochi 2014. He is hoping to again top the podium at PyeongChang 2018.

Mac Marcoux, Canada

At just 19 years old, Marcoux rounded off a glittering performance at Tarvisio 2017 by winning four golds and one silver in the men’s visually impaired events. If he performs at the best of his abilities, will be a hard-to-beat opponent at PyeongChang 2018.

Markus Salcher, Austria

Will try to repeat his performance from Sochi 2014, where he won two golds, at PyeongChang 2018. After winning the world titles and finishing first in the World Cup overall rankings in both the men’s downhill and super-G standing, Salcher is confident of achieving his goal.