Dartmouth seniors Libby Ludlow '06 and Pat Biggs '06, both in their Olympic premiere, appear to have realistic chances at podium spots in the super-G and Slalom. Also competing at the Games are Olympic veteran Scott Macartney '01 and Dartmouth NCAA slalom champion Bradley Wall '02, who will represent his native Australia.
Ludlow was named to the U.S. Olympic Team on Jan. 25. After recovering from two knee injuries in 2001 and 2005, Ludlow has had an incredible comeback season. She met the Olympic team objective criteria this year with two World Cup top-10 finishes, first in Lake Louise, Canada, and later in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria.
"I was absolutely determined to make my Olympic dream come true this year," said Ludlow.
As one of nine American women competing in the Alpine skiing events, Ludlow will be racing in the super-G on Feb. 19, along with three other American women.
"Sometimes when I think how far I've come with my knee since last spring, I just can't believe it," said Ludlow. "I am skiing the best I ever have and I am confident that on February 19th I will be a medal contender in my event."
Ludlow will post comments and results from her Olympics experience on her website, www.libbyludlow.com.
Biggs, who was a member of the Dartmouth ski team in 2003 and finished fourth in the slalom at the NCAA Championships, was named to the Canadian Olympic Team. After spending his freshman year skiing for Dartmouth, Biggs had impressive results at the Canadian and U.S. National Championships that gained him recognition from the Canadian National Team. It wasn't until the following season that Biggs became a full-time member of the Canadian Ski Team, however.
With two top-20 results in the slalom in the World Cup this year, Biggs' goal is to finish in the top 10 in the slalom on Feb. 25.
"I am looking to gain experience at these games as I hope to compete in many Olympics to come," said Biggs.
He is also looking forward to spending time in Italy while at the Games. "My favorite things about Italy are of course pasta and beer, but also Italian fashion."
More information about Biggs's career and results can be accessed on his website at www.patbiggs.com.
Olympic veteran Scott Macartney '01 also has high hopes for his second Olympics. In Salt Lake in 2002 he placed 29th in the downhill and 25th in the super-G, but lately his results have taken off.
On Jan. 29, Macartney placed second in the World Cup super-G race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, becoming the seventh American on the podium in the World Cup this season. After eight years on the U.S. Ski Team, Macartney's best performance could not have come at a more opportune time. Macartney and the U.S. Ski Team hope that momentum from his second-place finish can boost him onto the Olympic podium after he competes in the super-G on Feb. 18.
Carl Burnett '03 will also ski for the United States in the IX Paralympic Winter Games, held March 10-19 in Torino. Paralyzed below the waist after a childhood car crash, Burnett finished ninth in giant slalom, 11th in super-G and 11th in slalom at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The alpine skiers will join nine other Dartmouth athletes at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Two biathletes, a cross country skier and six women's ice hockey players were named to Olympic teams from the U.S., Canada and Switzerland earlier this month. The College has been represented by athletes and coaches at every Winter Olympics since the Games' founding in 1924.
