Simply no stopping phenomenal Farkasova
Legendary Slovakian Alpine skier Henrieta Farkasova is continuing to add to her already bulging trophy cabinet at the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games.
The 35-year-old has won gold in two of the three events she's competed in, bagging her 10th and 11th Paralympic titles in the women's downhill on Saturday and super combined on Monday. Farkasova competes in the vision-impaired VI category.
She had an uncharacteristic fall on her run in Sunday's super-G to miss out on the podium, as 16-year-old compatriot Alexandra Rexova took gold.
"It's great that we are here together. She is my idol. She is an unbelievable athlete, so I'm are happy to follow in her steps," said Rexova.
Farkasova will continue her fight to add more medals to her tally in the women's giant slalom on Friday and in the women's slalom on Sunday, the final day of the para Alpine skiing competition.
"It's amazing," said Farkasova after claiming her 11th Paralympic gold medal.
In an unusual approach, Farkasova is using two guides for her events in Beijing-Michal Cerven in the super-G and Martin Motyka in the slalom.
"It's very crazy for me because I have two guides, one for the first run and one for the second one but we are very happy," Farkasova said. "My guide (in the super-G) got injured a month ago and his knee is not perfect now so I needed to change guide for the slalom."
Farkasova began Alpine skiing at the age of 17 at a high school ski camp in Levoca, Slovakia.
"I'd never thought or dreamed of being a ski racer since I don't even come from a mountainous area. However, I felt mesmerized by the sport from the very first moment," Farkasova told the International Paralympic Committee in 2018.
Farkasova's passion for Alpine skiing has resulted in her not only becoming a multiple Paralympic champion, but also a 17-time world champion.