A wonderful Youth Olympics had ended for Barnabás Szőllős the 17 years old racer of the NIVELCO Ski Team. After a very successful season of preparation and competition, Barnabás came to Norway with high expectations towards himself.
The season started very early for him, he already had more competitions in South America at the end of July where he finished every race in the top 10, and this way he has significantly improved his FIS points.
In October the preparation continued the usual way in the glacier areas and in the gym. His performance was great again in the tournaments at December and he could even improve the good points gained in Argentina! During he tried himself in speed events too, so at the end of January he was the best Hungarian racer in more events of the International Ski Federation list. There was no doubt about his qualification to the II. Winter Youth Olympic Games. In his age group he is included in the top 30 in all the three events of the world ranking.
The Olympic program started with two days SG, GS and SL training. Here the competitors were running along and – by analysing the other competitors with Markus Erhardt professional trainer – it became more and more likely that Barnabás can achieve something remarkable. Barnabás carried out all the workouts confidently, disciplined and in elated mood, so we was very looking forward to the start of the first race.
The Olympics started at February 23. with the SG, unfortunately Barnabás pulled the highest 30 number. But ignoring the high number he started the 1570-meter track with full elan. When he finished he jumped ahead to the 15th position, only 1.76 seconds – which it was not more than 38 m (125 feet) – behind from the first. Later, a Swiss rider preceded him so he finished at 16th place. He couldn’t be unreservedly happy because he knew that he was 9th at the split time measurement in the upper section of the track. In the very next day the Alpine Combined started which consists of one run of SG and one run of slalom and perhaps one of the most difficult competition, because in the SG 212 cm (83.5 inches) skis are used and only after a short time the competitors have to switch to the smaller 165 cm (65 inches) slalom skis.
The SG competition was more technical, more precise cornering compared to the previous day races. Then a minor miracle happened, Barnabás Szőllős completed top third of the course in the third fastest split time! Unfortunately, this momentum couldn’t be carried through the complete course, because he fall out of the race after a minor error at the bottom half of the race.
There is no safety run at this level there is only one possible aspect to comply the maximum. Sometimes this brings added risks, but the most important thing is that Barnabas was not injured, so the next day he was able to concentrate on the GS training. He arrived in the training in great mood and excellent form; there was no trace of the previous day’s failure. A couple of rounds on the course fixing a few minor mistake and video analysis, it was just what he needed before the next day’s race.
February 17. the GS competition
Because the girls race was the day before we already knew what to expect in the 645 meters (0.4 mile) long track with 395 meters (1/4 mile) vertical drop and with nearly 60 gates on it.This level fitted exactly to the track used for the 1994 adult Olympics. It was incredibly difficult and long – the best time was 1 minute and 17 seconds – these tracks are used only in the World Cup or the Olympics. Barnabás can start the race with the number 19, it also means that he has been the 19th ranked competitor.
In the first run he arrived to the finish line with a bigger mistake, so he had to wait for the second race in the 22th position.
In the second run the first thirty start in reverse order, so Barnabás can start the competition in the ninth position. He’s a real racer type a “cold-blooded killer”. As if nothing had happened in the first run, putting aside everything, he began with frenetic pace to the 57 gate.
He had the best time in the finish, and led for a long time, finally with the best 11th time in this run he finished the race in the 14th place. Congratulations, interviews happiness… And a slalom race still left where anything could happen!
2016. 02. 19. Nemzeti Sport newspaper
Szőllős Barnabás the racer of NIVELCO Ski Team who getting better and better performance in the junior Olympics reached the best Hungarian results of Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer. First he reached the 16th position in super-G, and then he scored the 14th place in giant slalom. In this race day he excelled in the first slalom run: he finished in 11th position among the 62-strong field, that in itself an outstanding performance. In the second run he has become even more focused, he ski down the track even more drive, and due to this he came ahead to the 7th position.“Barnabás was fantastic. He was skiing with good technique and maximum concentration in both runs, which brought him the long-awaited success. The course was difficult and tricky, that is why many competitors have fallen out. I think that lots of hard work paid off now. Barnabás’s strength and stamina is improved a lot in recent months.” – said Péter Szőllős, Barnabás’s coach.
