| It Was Worth It, Every Bit
The first Nepali athlete to participate at the Winter Olympics finished last. But his participation in the games is itself a major achievement. Story by Prem Thapa.
Jay Khadka, the first athlete to represent Nepal at the Winter Olympics, completed his Games schedule in the 1500 metre Cross-Country Sprint at Soldier Hollow Tuesday. But after a promising display in the 10km Classical pursuit last week, the 25 year old skier from Pharping suffered a crashing fall on the last bend and finished last of the 72 runners.
Nonetheless he finished with a very respectable time of 4 min 48 seconds despite slipping again yards from the finishing post amidst huge roars from the grandstand.
"I was so disappointed to fall that I slipped again almost immediately after getting up," Jay told the mass of reporters and TV crews who surrounded him after the race. "In front of so many people it was very embarrassing," he admitted.
After the deaths of more than 150 Nepalese Servicemen in action overnight, the international media asked Jay if this had affected his performance. "I am very distressed by the fighting at home," he said. "Some of my close relatives are serving in that region and I have no idea if they are dead or alive. I am grieving for all those who have died in this war."
But British coach Richard Morley insisted the blame for Jay's big fall was his. "We gave his skis the best waxing possible immediately before the race and I told him to go easily on his warm up laps. Unfortunately he was not used to such technical preparation.
With only one pair of skis available to us we have not waxed them so well during training. I think the greatly added speed took him by surprise and he lost control on the steep approach entering the stadium. This sport is highly technical and we both have a great deal to learn."
Mr. Morley has personally trained Jay in Alpine racing for three seasons and the first Nepali skier has scored some impressive results in various European races. But bad luck struck them early last year when a torn knee ligament and broken arm forced Jay to suspend Alpine events and attempt to qualify for the Salt Lake Games through Cross Country Skiing.
"We must be the most amateur team at the whole Olympics,” Jay declared. Both the athlete and the coach have only had six weeks experience at Nordic Skiing before arriving at Soldier Hollow. But FIS Nordic Race Director, Bengt-Erik Bengtsson, warmly congratulated the pair on their efforts.
"The developing nations such as Nepal have brought a great deal to the sport of Nordic skiing," he told a meeting of team leaders and officials on Monday. "They have introduced it to millions of new people around the world and their efforts to develop and improve have been very good," he continued.
Mr. Bengtssson also personally congratulated Jay and Richard on their remarkable achievement of improving so much in an Olympic debut. Jay reduced his FIS point penalties from 954 to 418 in the 10km pursuit. This is believed to be an Olympic record.
Prem Thapa is associated with Nepal Olympic Association.