COVID measures can aid focus, says Slovenian ace

Slovenian snowboarder Zan Kosir reckons that Beijing 2022's COVID-19 prevention measures will aid his performance at the Games.

Athletes will compete in strict bio-secure bubbles at next year's Winter Olympics, but rather than being concerned about how to cope with the isolation, Kosir reckons he can make the conditions work to his advantage.

"I will be able to stay in my world, exclude the outside environment because it is very important for me to disconnect my head before such a competition," Kosir, who is preparing to compete at his fourth Olympics, said last week.

"I think I will succeed in that as we will not be able to socialize, so it should be easier to focus on the competition itself."

Kosir is one of only two snowboarders with three Olympic medals, claiming parallel slalom silver at Sochi 2014 and parallel giant slalom bronze in Sochi and again in Pyeongchang four years later.

The 37-year-old said that he is used to competing without spectators, having sped to his medals in Russia and South Korea without any Slovenian supporters to cheer him on.

"In a way it motivates me, if spectators are against me. What is better than to win against a competitor who is competing at home?"

Kosir reckons Chinese snowboarders have become much more competitive over the past years, thanks in part to working with Slovenian coaches.

Kosir, who will compete in parallel giant slalom at Beijing 2022, raced at the Olympic venue, the Secret Garden resort in Zhangjiakou, in 2019.

"The slope suits me because it is more demanding and longer than those we compete on in the World Cup," he said.

Kosir also boasts World Cup and world championship medals in his collection, but rates his Olympic feats more highly.

"This competition takes place only once every four years and is the only competition in my sport that is being followed around the globe," he said.

He has backed Chinese organizers to stage a smooth competition despite the COVID-19 restrictions and concerns over the pandemic.

"I do not burden myself by thinking about possible complications related to COVID-19, my biggest worry is my form at the Games. I want to be in my best possible form, and I want to focus on my performance at the competition," he said.

At 37, Kosir insists he has no plans to retire just yet, and is even aiming to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where he hopes Slovenian fans will cross the border to cheer him on.

Xinhua