Greta Small about to make yet another FIS World Cup comeback

Greta Small is ready to make yet another FIS Alpine World Cup comeback at Crans Montana (Switzerland) this weekend, where multiple women’s speed events are scheduled.

It feels appropriate that Small will return to top-level competition in the same venue where she achieved her last World Cup result almost two years ago, finishing 22nd in the Alpine Combined event. Not long after, in March 2019, Greta suffered a torn ACL during a Europa Cup Super-G in Italy. The injury ended a strong season where Australia's leading Alpine ski racer had managed to take a 20th place finish at the World Alpine Ski Championships in Are (Sweden).

Over the last few months Small has been training in Australia, at the Australian Institute of Sport, before flying overseas to use some FIS and Europa Cup races as stepping stones towards her World Cup season debut. 

“Training during a pandemic is challenging, more so in terms of planning due to the uncertainty of events actually happening. But as athletes you are always learning to be adaptable to any situation, so it has not affected me much day to day. The goal and focus remain the same!” she said.
 
For Small it’s the third comeback after suffering similar injuries in 2015 and 2017. Last time her efforts were focused on making the Australian team for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, where she donned the green and gold and represented Australia at the Games for the second time. Now Small has the 2021 World Championships in her immediate sight.
 
“For this season, my goal is to compete at my fourth World Championships at Cortina 2021. Then to qualify for next year’s Olympic Winter Games.
 
“Keeping the focus on one event at a time is important during any season. Staying present and knowing what you need to do to perform well each day is the most important thing. My season is designed around providing me with the best opportunities to perform at my best at the highest level of competition on the World Cup tour and World Championships.”
 
Crans Montana is a crucial stage in the lead up to Cortina 2021 (8-21 February) and also in the battle for the FIS Crystal Globe. Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova and Michelle Gisin of Switzerland are going head to head in the overall standings, while Sofia Goggia of Italy will try to defend her lead in the discipline classification from another Swiss athlete, Corinne Suter. The two finished 1-2 in the first training run for the Downhill events in Crans Montana. 

“The women’s speed races have been very interesting to watch this season,” Small said.
 
“Last year there was a change of guard with many top names retiring. Personally I feel confident with the way I was able to develop my technical skills after going back into full training - and of course I am pumped to get out and compete again!”

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