Georgian skier finishes 49th in Olympic race

Georgian Olympic downhill skier Nino Tsiklauri finished her first competition day at the Sochi Olympic Games.

Tsiklauri, who was Georgia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, finished 49th in the Giant Slalom event.

The Georgian skier gained a combined time of 2.55.34 minutes, from two runs. Her separate times were 1:27.27 and 1:28:07.

Before the race, Tsiklauri said she wanted to improve on her previous Olympic result, which she did.

Her 49th placing was one better than what she achieved in the Vancouver Olympic Games in 2010.

Slovenian skier Tina Maze won gold in the event after completing the course in the speedy time of 2:36.87 minutes from two runs (1.17.88 and 1.18.99). Austrian skier Anna Feninger gained the silver medal and German skier Viktoria Rebensburg won bronze.

Meanwhile, Tsiklauri is set to compete in her second Olympic event, the Slalom, on February 21.

Four Georgian athletes are competing in the Sochi Olympics.

On February 19 and 22, Georgian alpine skiers Iason Abramishvili and Alex Beniaidze will compete in the Giant Slalom event.

Georgia’s fourth Olympic athlete, Elene Gedevanishvili, will take part in the figure skating competition on February 19 and 20.