Céline Kayrouz (1re 6) aux Jeux Olympiques junior 2012 !

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Lebanese skier hopes Innsbruck 2012 provides pathway to London

INNSBRUCK, Jan 10 - While many of the athletes at the inaugural 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games hope to participate in future Winter Olympic Games, some also have their sights set on summer Olympic competition.

Celine KIYROUZ (LEB) is one of only two athletes competing for her National Olympic Committee at the Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games. She and her teammate, Alexandre MOHBAT (LEB) are both competing in Alpine Skiing, but KIYROUZ is also one of Lebanon's top young sprinters.

"I would like to go to London (for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games), but I don't know (if I can qualify)," she said.

KIYROUZ loves to ski, but has only the weekends between December and March to train at Lebanon's four ski resorts.

"I don't think I can have a future in skiing, so I have to focus on something else," she said.

The experience of competing in the international format of the Games may add to her ability to qualify for the Olympic team, and KIYROUZ hopes that almost two weeks training here, in Alpine Skiing, can improve her fitness, maturity, and competition experience.

For now, however, she is focusing on enjoying the ample training time available in Innsbruck, and getting to know other athletes from around the world.

"I've already made friends with a Korean girl, and met people from France, Luxembourg, all over," she said.

Alpine Skiing competition gets under way on January 14 with the Men's and Women's Super G.

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Paru dans :
http://www.innsbruck2012.com//en/newsroom/lebanese_skier_hopes_innsbruck_2012_provides_pathway_to_london