Ceccarelli out, Tallulah still in

BORMIO, Italy – With Francis Ceccarelli done competing, Tallulah Proulx gets the chance to write a happier ending for Team Philippines in the 25th Winter Olympics.

Ceccarelli crashed out of the men’s slalom event last Monday and bid his Winter Olympics debut goodbye with a 54th-place finish in the giant slalom.

“This sport is not very easy. Slalom is really difficult. I hope next time. I will work harder,” said Ceccarelli, quite emotional, at the ice-cold Stelvio Ski Centre here.

It snowed heavily in the morning, the mercury dropping to minus-seven degrees, and turned the fast downhill course into a virtual mouse trap.

Everything was a blur for the 96 skiers that after the morning run, the number was cut in half, and by the end of the day, only 39 skiers remained standing.

In alpine skiing, both men’s and women’s, each entry must complete two runs. A DNF (did not finish) in either run means you’re out of the competition.

While Ceccarelli had the option to just finish the first run, safe and sound, he chose to push hard because that’s what he trained for, and paid the price.

So did the others.

Lucas Pinheiro, who ruled the giant slalom last Saturday and gave Brazil its first gold medal in the Winter Olympics, crashed out in the morning run.

Loic Meillard of Sweden, bronze winner in giant slalom, won the gold this time with an aggregate time of 1:53.62. Fabio Gstrein of Austria took the silver at 1:53.96 and Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway the bronze at 1:54.74.

“I’m really happy. But this sport is very hard,” added Ceccarelli, who is based in Abetone in Tuscany with his Italian parents.

On his way out of the course, from a distance, the 22-year-old Fil-Italian faced the Filipino group in the stands, and spread his arms like he was apologizing.

“Sorry,” he said later on. Up next for the 22-year-old is a tournament in Turkey next month.

Proulx, the first Filipina in the Winter Olympics and at 17 one of the youngest in the field, returns to the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center in Cortina for the slalom event.

“I’m looking forward to my next event. I’m excited,” said Proulx, who was born in the United States.

Proulx saw action in giant slalom last Sunday, finishing 52nd out of 76 entries with an aggregate time of 2:41.62.

She clocked 1:17.15 in the morning then 1:24.47 in the afternoon.

Proulx, whose father hails from Eastern Samar, said the giant slalom event provided some jitters.

“It was actually scary and I finished it. It was honestly unbelievable,” she said.

NOTES: The very small group of Filipinos here in Bormio is torn between staying here and motoring to Cortina to catch Tallulah Proulx in action Wednesday. Chef-de-mission Jez Apelar had gone ahead with the six-hour, 350-km journey, leaving Shawn Telebrico, the tireless Philippine Olympic Committee administrative officer, and this writer with a very difficult choice. “Do we travel to Cortina by bus for maybe six hours, watch Tallulah compete, then go back here, another six hours?” said Telebrico. That’s a tough call to make… Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was glad to hear that Fil-Italian skier Francis Ceccarelli is a big fan of his. The STAR contacted Pacquiao by phone and relayed the information. Pacquiao was quick to offer Ceccarelli an invitation, saying, “When he comes to Manila, I want to meet him.” Ceccarelli replied, “I’m so really proud for (Pacquiao) you in every event and fight. I hope to see you soon.” “It was actually scary and I finished it. It was honestly unbelievable,” she said.