Proulx eyes proud performance

BORMIO, Italy – It really hasn’t sunk in yet for young Alpine skier Tallulah Proulx being the first Filipina ever to grace the Winter Olympics.

Well, at 10 a.m. today (5 p.m. in Manila), the charming 17-year-old who is based in Utah will finally get a taste of action in the mother of all winter sports.

“It really hasn’t sunk in on me. I don’t think it will until after my competition,” said Proulx over the phone Friday, ahead of her Giant Slalom event in Cortina.

Meanwhile, Francis Ceccarelli of the Philippines completed the first run in men’s Giant Slalom at the Stelvio Ski Center here in Bormio, clocking 1:27.36 and good for 57th place among 81 participants from 60 nations.

“It was really difficult but I can make it better in the second run and make the best. I’m so happy. I’m so emotional because it’s my first time,” said Ceccarelli, who did a little dance after crossing the line. He pumped his fists facing a small group of Filipinos, and his Italian parents, waving flags high up in the stands.

“Laban Pilipinas,” he added.

Ceccarelli stood 13.44 seconds behind pacesetter Lucas Pinheiro of Brazil (1:13.92).

Proulx had always dreamed of making it to the Winter Olympics.

“It’s super exciting, of course, being here. It’s just overwhelming. It’s my first Games. It’s so cool,” said Proulx, whose father traces her roots to Eastern Samar.

“Yes, especially being the first Filipina. I thought I was just the first (female) Alpine skier but not the first Filipina. I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” she said.

Women’s action is slated at the iconic Tofane Alpine Skiing Center, which is over 340 kms away from Bormio, a town of majestic ski resorts and site of the men’s competition.

But nostalgia is in the air over in Cortina, which hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics. Posters are everywhere reminding people of the Games that were held 70 years ago.

Proulx is also in Wednesday’s Slalom event, which offers a shorter but faster and more difficult downhill course on icy slopes. It’s more technical with more turns than the Giant Slalom.

Each skier in the Giant Slalom and Slalom events gets two runs with their times added to determine the winner.

Francis Ceccarelli, a 22-year-old born in Quezon City who now lives in Tuscany with his Italian parents, was in action in Giant Slalom as of press time yesterday.

Then he returns Monday for the Slalom event.

Meanwhile, back to Proulx, the challenge and expectations are high, according to Philippine chef-de-mission Jezreel Apelar, secretary-general of the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation.

“But they’ve (Proulx and Ceccarelli) sacrificed and done everything to prepare for these Games,” said Apelar, who has counted on the full support of the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission to make it all happen for Proulx and Ceccarelli.

NOTES: If there’s one thing that ran out fast in these Games it’s condom. Yes, 10,000 free condoms provided for the 2,871 athletes from 92 nations were gone in three days. The practice started during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. A total of 300,000 free condoms were given away at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In Rio in 2016, 450,000 condoms went up for grabs…A Filipino sports official fell victim to the “Laglag Barya Gang” of their own version in Milan, losing his valuables, including his passport, cash and cards. “Charge it to experience,” he said.