site.btaAlbert Popov Says He Ranked Great, Was Aiming Higher

Bulgarian Alpine skier Albert Popov took the prestigious ninth place in the men's slalom at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The 24-year-old athlete had two strong runs on the Ice River course in Yanqing and was just .36 seconds too slow to get a medal. Popov told BTA that he ranked great but was aiming higher.

So far, his rank is the best out of the Bulgarian delegation at the current Winter Games.

"I have mixed feelings. I cannot deny that my ranking is great, but we were aiming a little higher. Both my runs could be .3 or .4 seconds faster. My competitive spirit means that I will be a little angry within the next couple of hours," Popov shared. He continued, "I tried to push myself to the limits in both runs, even though the course was flat, a lot less challenging. Flat sections are not my forte, but I was able to adjust by modifying my technique a little." Popov was happy with his performance, which proved he could compete on equal terms with skiers who are generally better at covering flat sections.

"My position from the first run remained unchanged. I was hoping to climb a few spots. I risked a lot, mistakes happen. I will discuss my performance with [my coach] Ivaylo Borisov. After all, I am happy with my entering the top 10 at the Olympics. We have a reason to celebrate."

Popov admitted that his second run could have been faster by about half a second.

"The start is quite peculiar. You have exactly four gates that have to be used for accumulating as much speed as possible. Then that speed has to be used in the next 30 seconds of flat area. My starting position in both runs was 22nd. The conditions and the course were good, although previous skiers had created tracks around the initial four gates. You have to enter those tracks perfectly, otherwise you begin to gradually lose speed."

Popov's ninth place in China is Bulgaria's second-best result in Olympic Alpine skiing after Petar Popangelov's sixth places in the 1980 Lake Placid and 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games. Popov was unaware of that before his interview for BTA. "Records exist to be broken, to be replaced by new ones. I hope I stay healthy and able to train hard. I believe that sooner or later I would be able to prove myself with my own records," he responded.

The young skier ranked 17th in the giant slalom, which is the highest rank reached by a Bulgarian at an Olympic event. "My skiing in the giant slalom was brave. Considering my potential, I believe I outdid myself. I was very calm during the slalom, which boosted my confidence. A few times I lacked accuracy but overall, I am content, and I cannot wait until my third Olympic participation."

"We [Kamen Zlatkov, another Bulgarian Alpine skier, and I] have been very ambitious ever since we were kids. Expectations from us were high. That pushed us forward. Both Kamen and I have gone through rough patches, but we persevered, never gave up. Maybe that is what drove us to this point. Unlike Austria and Italy, Bulgaria lacks world-class ski resorts that are open year-round. So, we must travel and spend time away from home." Popov added that his success would have been impossible without effort of his team. He proceeded to thank his loved ones, the Bulgarian Ski Federation, and his fans.

Popov's next plans include a three-day break in Bulgaria. Then he will start preparing for the end of the ski season. He will compete in Garmisch (Germany) and is still uncertain about skiing in Kranjska Gora (Slovenia). He will run in the Flachau slalom in Austria in early March, then focus on the International Ski Federation World Cup Finals.

"I know that fans are following my results and rooting for me. I was avoiding giving too many interviews before these Games. I tried to stay away from social media. My goal was to stay focused on my performance. I haven't checked too many comments, but now that the pressure is off, I would be glad to spend some time talking to my fans once I am back in Bulgaria," Popov said. NZ/

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