For the second day in a row, Ireland’s skiing representative in Sochi failed to make it to the finish at the first time of asking.
A fall midway through the first run of the men's giant slalom did for Conor Lyne this morning, just as it had done for Florence Bell today. Conditions were much improved overnight but even though it was a perfect morning for skiing, Lyne was one of 25 DNFs in the massive 106-man field.
“So disappointing,” he said afterwards. “I started fine, I was skiing well. I don’t know really – I had good line coming down to that section, which is probably the toughest on the course because it’s pretty steep.
“I made a good turn and just got a little outside of where I should have been and got bumped. Then when I tried to turn and correct it I lost it and basically spun around and that was it, gone into the padding on the side.”
Lyne has been struggling with a shoulder injury sustained in a training run fall 10 days ago. It curtailed his training time and meant he has been wearing a sling for most of his time here. He dismissed any suggestion that it contributed to his fall, however.
“The shoulder was an inconvenience but it didn’t have anything to do with the fall. This kind of thing just happens. It’s one bump, one degree to the wrong side and you’re done. I’m disappointed but I gave my best as always.
“But look, I pushed out of the start. I will always have that. I made it here to the Olympics and even with the injury I persisted. I pushed out of that gate and in the end that’s all that matters. I can say I’m an Olympian now and that’s the main thing.”
