‘What an honour’: Stroke survivor Kennedy-Sim to carry Australian flag in closing ceremony
Skier Sami Kennedy-Sim makes a habit of celebrating every experience she has along her sporting journey, and for the 33-year-old stroke survivor, walking into the stadium carrying the Australian flag in the Beijing Winter Olympics closing ceremony will be no different.
In the eyes of many, her career will be defined by becoming a three-time Olympian after suffering a stroke.
But speaking to Nine’s Wide World of Sports just prior to competing in Beijing, Kennedy-Sim was more focused on her experiences along the way.
Skicross Olympian Sami Kennedy-Sim proudly waves the Australian flag.Credit:Getty Images
“The first experience at the Games was that – it was an experience,” she said of the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.
“I’d had a stroke nine months before [and] my idea of performing at the Olympics was kind of put to the side and I went there to have an Olympic experience so that I’d be more prepared, and I was way more prepared when we went to Pyeongchang [in 2018]. Now that I’ve had a reasonably good performance at Pyeongchang, I’m prepared even more for the potential of that podium”.
A dream podium place wasn’t to be for Kennedy-Sim at Beijing but she did reach the semi-finals in freestyle skicross at her third Olympics.
She suffered her stroke – a cerebral infarction – in April 2013. It turned out to be relatively minor and she was able to return to light training within a matter of months.
Since then, she’s had a series of strong results across the toughest competitions in the world – including a then personal-best fourth place in the Val Thorens, France, World Cup in 2014 – and has recorded a string of top-10 World Cup results since. She won silver in the World Cup meet in Sweden in 2017, and bronze in Switzerland in the 2020-2021 season.
She said it was a “rare privilege” to be chosen to lead out her national team at the closing ceremony in Beijing, marking the end of Australia’s most successful winter Games campaign (four medals).
“What an honour,” she said. “When Geoff [Lipshut] told me, I was a bit stunned. But what a way to wrap up my third Games. While I did come here to better my last performance, it’s another top-10 performance at an Olympic Games and I am very proud of that.
“When you think about the history that this team has created, it adds to the magic of these Games to be asked to lead our team.”
Lipshut, Australia’s Chef de Mission, said it was a great pleasure to break the news to Kennedy-Sim.
“Sami really deserves this honour. Her commitment and professionalism goes to the heart of what this team has been about,” he said.
“She’s had a wonderful career, reaching top five on World Cup tour events since making her debut in 2008, with a highest world ranking of 11th in 2011-12.
“In choosing Sami, I thought about her whole career. She struggled in her first Games in Sochi – she was extremely nervous, but then having two eighth placings in her next two Olympic Games.
“She has been the standard-bearer for her sport – and keeping her sport going in our country. She has been putting herself out there and training really hard, travelling to all the events and being credible in what is a very tough sport.
“Sami has really made her career the most of what it could be. And tonight, she will proudly lead Australia as these very successful Games draw to a close.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Most Viewed in Sport
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article