Relaxed Hosp confident

ByEurosport

Published 24/02/2006 at 09:07 GMT

Austria's Nicole Hosp has revealed to Eurosport that she will be under no pressure when she takes to the piste for Friday's giant slalom. Hosp - currently fourth in the World Cup standings in the discipline - took the silver behind Swede Anja Paerson in W

"I will definitely be more relaxed for the race," said the 23-year-old after finishing behind Paerson on Wednesday. "My aim was and still is to win a medal.

"I have already done that so I can be pretty relaxed for the next competition."

Hosp - who finished 5th in the World Championships last year - has already tasted success twice so far in the event in this season's World Cup, and admits it will give her confidence going into Friday's race.

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"Definitely I'm in good shape. I've got self-confidence - I just hope to be lucky tomorrow."

TEAM DRIVE

And the huge success of the Austrian team so far in this year's Games - notably of Alpine duo Benjamin Raich and Michaela Dorfmeister - spurs Hosp on.

"Of course, the gold medals of the team give me a lot of drive," the Austrian explained. "You simply see that they can win too, and we are not far away from them.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Nicole Hosp

Image credit: Imago

"Above all it takes away the pressure of the media. Having a gold medal in the team, the pressure is gone. So we can ski more relaxed."

With Janica Kostelic already withdrawn from the race, Hosp sees Paerson as one of the main favourites.

"I think that they're (the favourites are) always the same. For tomorrow, I think it will be Rienda, Anja Paerson, Tina Maze and our three girls," said a hopeful Hosp.

And the Austrian is well aware of the preparation needed for the Giant Slalom race:

"We have to get more drive in our hips," she explained with a chuckle.

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