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Dereyan: Armenian Olympians Showcase Their Sportsmanship
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2010/ 02/19/dereyan-armenian-olympians-showcase-their-sp ortsmanship/
By Antranig Dereyan - on February 19, 2010
The Armenian Weekly sports correspondent Antranig Dereyan reports from
Vancouver.
VANCOUVER, Canada - Armenia's athletes are all in the same boat, trying
to do their best, but with little exposure and much doubt from the
outside nations on their abilities.
Kristine Khachatryan and Sergey Mikayelyan, both cross-country skiers,
have already completed their respective events.
Khachatryan, in the ladies' 10 km. free, started her race in the 78th
position and finished 76th. Now, the most important aspect of this
result is that she finished in a better position than she started in.
At the Just by finishing, Khachatryan put Armenia on the map. Her name
is on the result list, with the flag of her nation beside it.
Seventy-sixth place means that she didn't give up and beat the times
of other national stars who started ahead of her.
Seventy-sixth isn't the same as medaling, of course, but it is
something every Armenian should be proud of.
Sergey Mikayelyan's event, the men's 15 km. free, brought with it
international exposure, thanks to the American Olympic Broadcast
station, NBC. Using words like `bright future,' the piece on
Mikayelyan may have given the young, Russian-born Armenian national
pressure to do well. Remember, he is only 17, and better things are
yet to come.
He started from 76th place and battled the other competitors - and the
elements (Vancouver, both downtown and in Whistler, saw freezing rain
and heavy snowfall with winds) - to improve his standing to 70th place.
Disappointing for some spectators? Maybe, especially after the TV
piece, but, as with his teammate, this is a good thing. Placing higher
than he started, staying focused on the event and not letting the
outside world affect him, Mikayelyan may not have had lived up to the
expectations of the NBC piece, but he will in Olympics to come.
As for the alpine skiers - flag bearer Arsen Nersisyan and U.S.-born
Ani-Matilda Serebrakian - their events are next week. Nersisyan will
compete in the men's giant slalom on Feb. 23 at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific
Standard Time) and in the slalom on Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. Serebrakian
will compete in the ladies' giant slalom on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. and in
the slalom on Feb. 26 at 10 a.m.
Check your local listings for air times.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2010/ 02/19/dereyan-armenian-olympians-showcase-their-sp ortsmanship/
By Antranig Dereyan - on February 19, 2010
The Armenian Weekly sports correspondent Antranig Dereyan reports from
Vancouver.
VANCOUVER, Canada - Armenia's athletes are all in the same boat, trying
to do their best, but with little exposure and much doubt from the
outside nations on their abilities.
Kristine Khachatryan and Sergey Mikayelyan, both cross-country skiers,
have already completed their respective events.
Khachatryan, in the ladies' 10 km. free, started her race in the 78th
position and finished 76th. Now, the most important aspect of this
result is that she finished in a better position than she started in.
At the Just by finishing, Khachatryan put Armenia on the map. Her name
is on the result list, with the flag of her nation beside it.
Seventy-sixth place means that she didn't give up and beat the times
of other national stars who started ahead of her.
Seventy-sixth isn't the same as medaling, of course, but it is
something every Armenian should be proud of.
Sergey Mikayelyan's event, the men's 15 km. free, brought with it
international exposure, thanks to the American Olympic Broadcast
station, NBC. Using words like `bright future,' the piece on
Mikayelyan may have given the young, Russian-born Armenian national
pressure to do well. Remember, he is only 17, and better things are
yet to come.
He started from 76th place and battled the other competitors - and the
elements (Vancouver, both downtown and in Whistler, saw freezing rain
and heavy snowfall with winds) - to improve his standing to 70th place.
Disappointing for some spectators? Maybe, especially after the TV
piece, but, as with his teammate, this is a good thing. Placing higher
than he started, staying focused on the event and not letting the
outside world affect him, Mikayelyan may not have had lived up to the
expectations of the NBC piece, but he will in Olympics to come.
As for the alpine skiers - flag bearer Arsen Nersisyan and U.S.-born
Ani-Matilda Serebrakian - their events are next week. Nersisyan will
compete in the men's giant slalom on Feb. 23 at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific
Standard Time) and in the slalom on Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. Serebrakian
will compete in the ladies' giant slalom on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. and in
the slalom on Feb. 26 at 10 a.m.
Check your local listings for air times.