Click or flick across for photos of Britt competing and at home on the Border over the years.
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BRITT Cox will be the first of the Border’s six competitors to hit the snow at the Sochi Winter Olympics — well before the flame is even lit at the opening ceremony.
The Falls Creek freestyle skier will take to the snow tomorrow night in the qualifying round for the moguls.
It is the 19-year-old’s only event — a far cry from Porepunkah alpine skier Greta Small, also 19, who will tackle five races over two weeks.
The Albury Scots School-educated Small will start her campaign in the combined event — one run on a Super G course, the other on a slalom run — on Monday night.
Our strongest representation is in cross-country skiing, with all four skiers — Esther Bottomly, Phil Bellingham and siblings Callum and Aimee Watson — from the Border region.
And while three are Olympic debutants, Mount Beauty’s Bottomley is the first Australian woman to compete in three Games in cross country.
Yarrawonga vet Aimee Watson will start her campaign on Saturday night in the skiathlon — a 15-kilometre race split into two 7.5-kilometre legs of classical and skating skiing.
Cox, at 15, was the youngest athlete on the Australian team at Vancouver in 2010.
She’s now a role model for teammates who are debutants at Sochi.
Her moguls’ qualifying run will be followed by the final early on Sunday.
She is a near-veteran of the World Cup circuit and has added two world bronze medals to her resume in recent years.
“I’m a different skier — I’m a little more mature and I’m looking forward to new experiences here,” she said this week.
“It’s a lot like deja vu.
“I’m very excited and proud to be wearing the Australian uniform.”
Small, who carried the flag at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, two years ago, said her hectic schedule wouldn’t keep her from the opening ceremony.
“It’s a massive few weeks coming up,” she said.
“But it’s not unusual for me, because I compete in all events all the time, so I’m not worried.
“I’m really excited to be competing in all five events and excited with all the chances I’ve got to perform at my best.”
Of the cross country contingent, Phil Bellingham has peaked at the right time with a quarter-final effort in the Under 23 world championships last week in the sprints.
Aimee Watson should win a medal for her dedication and commitment to just making the team.
Injury restricted the 26-year-old’s preparation but she competed in an event every weekend for more than 10 weeks in Europe to make the qualifying mark.
“I work in a rural mixed practice — working with both large animals and small animals,” she said.
“Most of our work is dairy cattle, cats and dogs, but we do see some sheep and horses and see the occasional pocket pet,” she told the Australian Olympic media unit.
“Training usually involves fitting in a session before and after work.”
