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Picture Cruickshank - has qualified for Turin

CRUICKSHANK REFLECTS ON 'CRAZY WEEK'

  • PA Sport is following Great Britain downhill skier Roger Cruickshank throughout his build-up to next month's Winter Olympics in Turin.

    In his own weekly column, RAF flying officer Cruickshank will reveal the highs and lows of life on the World Cup circuit as he seeks to fulfil one of his lifetime ambitions.

    It has been a crazy week in which I finally sealed my Olympic place and got a little taste of what it will be like in front of the world's media in Turin.

    It was such an amazing feeling waiting at the bottom of the hill in Sella Nevea to confirm I had got the top 20 place which realises a lifetime ambition.

    It was something I have geared absolutely everything towards over the last nine or 10 months, and it was so nerve-racking standing there watching the rest of the competitors come down after me.

    But it was so good to be standing there at that moment with my physio Sandi Lyall, because we went through thick and thin just to get me going again, and I will never forget that moment.

    Just the next day I had messages on each of my mobile phones from journalists wanting to talk to me because of the story surrounding my comeback from such a bad injury.

    To my dad's horror Grampian TV had persuaded him to do a short piece, while a radio station even called up my granny at home trying to get in touch with me.

    I am enjoying the press coverage because everybody seems genuine in their appreciation, and when you've worked so hard it is nice to have some recognition for that.

    I have always dreamed about going to the Olympics and representing Britain and the air force - it is what skiing has always been about for me.

    It's a great way of saying thanks to the air force who gave me the deal to try to get to the Olympics, and it has always been quite a rollercoaster to try to keep my side of the bargain.

    The next day after my qualification did not go quite so well as I had the first crash of my comeback. It was picture-perfect to how I broke my leg because I fell on my side and slid down the hill.

    But this time I managed to keep my leg up in the air so it didn't jam into the snow and catapult me and I emerged unscathed and very relieved.

    Now I plan to take a step back to concentrate on training and make sure that now I have reached the Games I do not relax, get a big head and start to think above myself.

    It is one thing getting there but it is quite another skiing to my full potential when I am there - and that is what I intend to focus on in the immediate weeks ahead.

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