Elise Pellegrin in Sochi. Photo: Lucienne AttardMalta’s first Winter Olympian is living out her childhood dream by competing in Sochi at the current Games.
Elise Pellegrin started skiing at just two years old and has made it to the Olympics through hard work, dedication and a Maltese passport courtesy of her family links to the island.
“My first target is to make Malta proud of me. I do not think I have a realistic chance of winning a medal, but my intention is to get a good result and beat skiers who come from other small countries like our own,” Ms Pellegrin told Times of Malta from Sochi, where she arrived last week.
Born and raised in France, Ms Pellegrin qualified to represent Malta because her paternal grandmother and her father both have Maltese citizenship.
She last visited Malta in June 2013 and was impressed by its architectural beauty.
The 22-year-old will make her first appearance in Sochi on February 18 in the giant slalom. Three days later, she will make her second appearance in the women’s slalom.
Politics should not spoil the spirit of friendship and unity that is so evident here
Despite heightened security due to fears that the Games may be targeted by terrorists from Russia’s troubled North Caucasus region, Ms Pellegrin said she was not afraid.
“The security in the Olympic Village and the competition venues is very tight and professional,” she said.
Ms Pellegrin also refused to be drawn on the controversy surrounding Russia’s anti-gay laws, which prohibit homosexual ‘propaganda’. Some competitors have chosen to speak out in favour of gay rights, but Ms Pellegrin said she felt that most athletes were focused on their performances.
“Politics should not spoil the spirit of friendship and unity that is so evident here,” she said.
The Malta Olympic Committee supported Ms Pellegrin’s bid to qualify for the Games by enrolling her in an Olympic solidarity scholarship, which helped her to train and compete. It also made all the practical arrangements for her to take part in the Winter Olympics.
Ms Pellegrin is accompanied in Sochi by Malta’s chef de mission Lucienne Attard. As well as beating her rivals from other small nations, Ms Pellegrin would also like to set a personal best at the Games, although this will depend on many outside factors, such as the wind, the condition of the slope, the amount of snow and the number of gates.
“I know that winter sports are not practised in Malta, so to practise you will need to go to another country, but I do hope that my participation in the Games will generate more interest in winter sports,” she said.