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French star Marie Bochet returns to action in Liechtenstein following her participation at the Saalbach 2021 World Cup in Austria ⒸBenedikt LexBy Lena Smirnova | For World Para Snow Sports
It has not been an easy season for Marie Bochet. France’s star Para alpine skier juggled constantly changing schedules, mounting pressure in the year before the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games and, to top it all off, contracted COVID-19.
Now about to race at the Europa Cup finals in Malbun, Liechtenstein, the eight-time Paralympic champion is hoping to finish this challenging season on a positive note.
The competition, consisting of one giant slalom and one slalom race, will be held until Friday with 52 skiers from 14 nations. It is the sixth and final stop of the Europa Cup season that started in late November.
Imagen ⒸGetty ImagesBy Lena Smirnova | For the IPC
Three years ago, at the Paralympic Games in PyeongChang, Para alpine skier Hilmar Orvarsson spent much of the time when he was not skiing answering messages from well-wishers.
As the only athlete from Iceland, where the population is just over 350,000, and the country’s flag bearer at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, it was natural that Orvarsson was the centre of attention at his first Paralympic Games.
“It was an honour,” the athlete said. “It was almost like a full-time job answering messages. I got quite a lot of attention and it was fun.”