Phl bet stands ground in Winter Olympics

BORMIO, Italy — Tallulah Proulx, at 17 one of the youngest in the field, proudly stayed on her feet at the close of Alpine skiing’s Giant Slalom event in the 25th Winter Olympics Sunday.

Proulx was listed as one of only four 17-year-olds among the 76 female competitors but managed to finish her two runs when others failed. 

“I finished,” the skier, who was born in the United States but whose father, James, hails from Eastern Samar, said in a happy tone.

 Proulx had a time of 1:17.15 in the first run at the iconic Tofane Alpine Skiing Center, site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Then she clocked 1:24.47 in the second run.

 With an aggregate time of 2:41.62, the charming Fil-American wound up 52nd overall. A total of 22 skiers did not finish the race, including another 17-year-old, Neringa Stepanauskaite of Lithuania.

 The youngest in the field, 16-year-old Pia Vucinic of Croatia, also did not finish the race. In Alpine skiing, an entry who fails to finish one run is out of the competition.

 “It was so fun and it was actually scary. But I finished it. It was honestly unbelievable,” said Proulx, the first Filipina ever to compete in the Winter Olympics.

 Her parents and brother travelled all the way from Utah to witness her feat.

 “It was really cool,” said Proulx, who has one more event, the women’s Slalom, slated Wednesday to close out the Philippine participation that is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Patrick Gregorio.

 Francis Ceccarelli was wrapping up his campaign in the men’s Slalom as of presstime following a memorable 54th place in the Giant Slalom last Saturday.

 Proulx admitted that she could have done better, but for her age, it was a proud moment.