In the crosser mixed team competition, held for the first time at the Olympics, Alessandro Hämmerle and Pia Zerkhold were eliminated in the first round (quarterfinals) on Saturday in Zhangjiakou and finished 13th. The first team mixed Olympic gold went to the USA ahead of Italy and Canada one.
Individual Olympic champion Hämmerle initially managed a confident start-finish victory for Austria, number 2 behind Italy, in the fourth quarter-final. After that, Zerkhold was the first to start her run with a lead of almost three tenths of a second and initially led it confidently. However, due to a driving error, the 23-year-old from Lower Austria completely lost her pace and was overtaken by all three of her competitors.
“I’m an ambitious sucker”
“I’m disappointed. I hope I can take a lot with me,” said 23-year-old Zerkhold. “I still lack the experience that will come – hopefully in the next few weeks, hopefully it will go faster.” But it was extremely difficult for her to assess the elements on a course that was slower due to snowfall. “Then I pressed too much, it was much too short and then I stood.” It was practically impossible to catch up again. “Then it’s over, I couldn’t do much anymore.”
Two days after his Olympic victory, Hämmerle was hungry for medals again. “It hurts me a lot, I have to say. I’m such an ambitious idiot, that’s not possible.” He still had a “pleasure” and he was fit again after the media and party marathon. “I slept well today, was very motivated and I think I could have put on a little more Schäufle in the next few runs.”
After winning individual gold, Hämmerle had prepared well for the mixed team competition. “So that I can do my best and fully support Pia. Riding in a team is something different, you don’t want to disappoint the others,” explained the Vorarlberger.
The spot in question, where Zerkhold was too short in the race, was ridden together in training. “I advised her to absorb a bit more. Then I’m driving in the heat today and notice: There’s really a lot of snow inside, it’s much slower than in training. So the mistake is just as much my fault,” said Hämmerle and took off his “hat” in front of his partner. “I’d rather we make mistakes. She’s a young driver and will certainly learn from this.”
victory for the USA
The USA team took the victory, which even made it Olympic double gold for 36-year-old Lindsey Jacobellis. She was assisted by Nick Baumgartner, who at 40 is now the oldest US Winter Olympic champion since 1948. Italy won silver with Michela Moioli/Omar Visintin, bronze went to Meryeta Odine and Eliot Grondin from Canada.
In contrast to Canada, France, Italy, the USA and Australia, Austria only had one team. The competition took place in heavy snowfall at the beginning and had to be interrupted for a longer time after Australian Belle Brockhoff fell heavily. Brockhoff was taken away with the rescue sled.
Source: Nachrichten
