Scott Kneller

I am very proud to announce I have been selected to represent Australia in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Last year on the Olympic Track, Cypress Mountain. I’m 2nd in the photo

The last couple of weeks have been the most stressful of my life, anxiously awaiting my selection for the Vancouver Olympics. My injuries in St Johann put me on the sideline for the last two qualifying events in France, so I could do nothing but wait and hope for the best.

Just before my finals debut in Cypress Canada

Unbeknown to me there is a rule in Skier Cross that states when a skier does not start the finals competition, that skier is placed in 32nd position. This meant that due to my crash and inability to start finals in St Johann I finished in 32nd position and failed to accumulate any World Cup points, pushing me further back on the qualifying list, out of Olympic contention.

This news came to me when I was recovering in Innsbruck, and was very difficult to deal with. I had trained so hard in the lead up, I was skiing well and to then have it all taken away, I was demoralised. I had to accept the fact that I wouldn’t be competing at the games.

In the following events however qualification started to look better although it was still a long shot. I was out of the top 35, however each country has there own specific criteria, so there was a chance that I might get a spot in the reallocated quota spots.

The toughest part was that if I had accumulated the points in St Johan I would have made the top 35 and qualified for the games. I could of gone out in the first round and it wouldn’t have mattered, all I had to do was pull out  of the start gate to get the points. For me it was exceptionally hard to deal with because I felt like I had earned the spot.

I followed the circuit back to North America still anxiously awaiting results and all the while rehabilitating my shoulder. Although the qualifying period had finished, competitors still had the last two events to meet their own national criteria.

I was in New York when I got the call, in the reallocation of quota spots I had qualified a position and I would be going to the Olympics, the most exciting day of my life. It is an unbelievable feeling knowing that all the hard work I devoted to this sport was all worth it. Because the road has been so difficult these past three weeks, the victory is that much better.

I celebrated with my team mate Katya Crema who also qualified, securing her position in the last event before the Olympics finishing in 10th place, a career best.

Katya, Monica and myself overlooking New York city.

Monica and myself at the Guggenheim

Time Square

I’m heading to Quebec next week for some on snow training, then to Tahoe to meet up with Errol Kerr for some Skier Cross training on the track Alpine Meadows have kindly built for him. (Errol will be competing for Jamaica in the Skier Cross). I arrive in Vancouver on the 9th for the opening ceremony, then disappearing for some training before I return for my event on the 21st of February.

Thankyou to everyone for their support I wouldn’t be here without you. I’ll do Australia proud.