Ready for Winter Olympics bid: Fiona Hughes

Feb 12 2010 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE waiting is over for Lindley skier Fiona Hughes.

The 19-year-old cross-country exponent is part of the Great Britain team parading in the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, later today.

Selected after a number of highly-promising performances this season – including a silver medal at the Swiss National Championships and making her World Cup debut – she is looking forward to doing battle with the sport’s elite racers on the biggest stage of all.

She has been working to make sure she’s in the best possible shape (mentally and physically) and the former Greenhead College student will be delighted they are having no problems with the weather at the cross-country venue in Whistler.

Hughes is due to race on Monday in the 10km event. There are sprints, pursuits and relays in the cross-country on Wednesday and Friday and then on February 22, 25 and 27.

Games organisers insist their rescue effort, which has led to tons of snow being trucked to one skiing venue, will ensure events go ahead as planned.