Abigail Vieira is the first ever athlete from Trinidad & Tobago to participate at a Youth Olympic Games, and the first Alpine Skier from TTO to participate at any Olympic event.
Abigail Vieira competed in the slalom event today, and finished in a sensational 29th place. This was her last competition at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympics. She will have tomorrow to visit some other venues of the Games, to reflect back on her experience at the Games and on being the first athlete from T & T at the Youth Olympics, and will then fly home on January 16th. The race was live streamed at https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/live/
Replay is available at:
Sport Description from Lausanne 2020: In Giant Slalom, the gates are spaced further apart than in Slalom, but not as far apart as in super-G. In Giant Slalom the course consists of two double sets of poles linked by a gate panel through which the competitor has to ski. The competitions are run in an "against the clock" format and, as in Slalom, each skier completes two runs and the competitor with the fastest combined time wins.
Abigail started the 1st run with bib number 61. On a very challenging course which 31 athletes did not finish, she finished in 36th place, out of a field of 78 competitors. Abby did very well on the top portion, lost a little bit of speed in the flatter sections in the middle, but kept pushing her skis and got back into a good rhythm on the last pitch, finishing strong where many racers crashed out. Abby was happy with a good run and went straight back into focused mode to prepare for the all-deciding 2nd run in the afternoon.
In her 2nd run, Abby started as 36th racer (the top 30 from run 1 start in reverse order, then the other racers in order of their ranking from the 1st run). Again, she skied the top very, coming through the steep pitches with good speed. She managed to carry more of it over the flatter section and came into the final section with only a small slip, to gain 7 places compared to her her previous run, and finish in a sensational 29th place.
Summary of Abigail Vieira’s Results at Lausanne 2020:
Jan 10th: Super G – 42nd place
Jan 11th: Alpine Combined – 32nd place
Jan 12th: Giant Slalom – DNF (45th after 1st run)
Jan 13th: Slalom – 29th place
Abigail Vieira Quotes from 14/01/2020:
On her race today: “It felt great! The snow was fast, it (the course) was fair, it was all round just a great race!”
“I tried my best and skied my hardest!
On her passion for skiing:
“It just started when I was super young, it’s something that I have been doing my whole life, this passion is just a lifestyle I guess… I couldn’t imagine my life without skiing!”
On her idols:
“My idols were all other athletes, the ones who worked hard, the ones who wanted to be the best, that was an inspiration for me!”
Looking back on the races at Lausanne 2020:
“This was just a once-in-a-lifetime experience and no other race is ever gonna be the same”.
“It was a great time being in Lausanne, I learned a lot, I met a lot of people… Hopefully I can do more things like this, and keep on ski racing.”
Preview for tomorrow: Abigail Vieira will have January 15th to recover and visit some other venues and sports at Lausanne 2020, as well as to reflect back on her experience at the Games. She will travel back home, with her family, on January 16th.
Abigail Vieira’s Youth Olympic mission is a family affair: her Team staff on-site includes her father Richard Vieira as Chef de Mission, her sister Ria Vieira as assistant coach, and her mother Alison Vieira as support staff. Her coach is Lori Ford, mother of ex-Olympian Julie Ford from Team
USA. Abigail is further supported by team staff Mirella Arnhold, Olympian Alpine Skier for Brazil
(2002 and 2006). The team is completed by Nick Lau, general secretary of the Trinidad & Tobago Snowsports Federation (TTSF), as well as Olympic Games Organizing committee veteran Veronika Muehlhofer (6 Olympic Games), as press attaché & media/communications support.
Schedule and results: https://www.lausanne2020.sport/results (click on Alpine skiing)
Information and Explanations about the sport: https://www.lausanne2020.sport/en/sports/alpine_skiing
Photo Gallery: https://teamtto.org/index.php/photo-gallery/category/86-2020-winter-youth-olympics
Video Gallery: https://teamtto.org/index.php/ttoc-tv-channel
Photo and Video Credits: Veronika Muehlhofer @www.ttoc.org
Professional Photos from Lausanne 2020: www.oisphotos.com
Olympic Information Service’s Feature story about Abigail Vieira, on the front page of the Lausanne 2020 Website: https://www.lausanne2020.sport/en/news/alpine-skiing/alpine_skier_becomes_first_trinidad_and_tobago_athlete_to_compete_at_winter_yog
Team Contact:
TTO NOC Press Attaché: Veronika Muehlhofer
E-mail: veronikam@millionsports.com
Tel.: +41 78 685 0271
Web & Social:
News and Results: www.lausanne2020.sport
Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee:
Website: https://teamtto.org/
Instagram: teamtto
Facebook: @TeamTTO Twitter: @TTOlympic
Lausanne 2020: Instagram: @lausanne2020 Facebook: @lausanne2020
Abigail Vieira:
Instagram: Abbyyvi
Facebook: @Abbyyvi #islandskier
TTSF:
Facebook: Trinidad and Tobago Snowsports Federation Athlete Biography:
Abigail “Abby” Vieira
PERSONAL
Birthdate: August 9th 2002
Height: 5’ 4”
Hometown: Winchester, MA
Language: English (native); Spanish (basic)
ACADEMIC:
High school: Holderness School
School address: Plymouth, NH
GPA: 96.20
Honors: High Honors – 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19
Leadership: Elected School President 2019 – 2020
Varsity Soccer – Captain
Eastern Alpine Ski Team – Captain
Sports: Soccer, Alpine Ski, Lacrosse
College: Accepted to Williams College Class of 2024
ALPINE SKI HISTORY
FIS points (12/18/19): SL: 148.61
GS: 154.46 SG: 219.24
Teams: Began ski racing at 8 years old Loon Race Team 2010-16
Holderness Eastern Alpine USSA 2016-2018
Holderness FIS 2018 to present
Currently skis as a T&T National at the FIS (International level)
Disciplines: Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G
Results overview: • Competing on the international circuit
• Attained Olympic qualification point levels in the first year
Best results (last 3 years)
2018-2019 GS – 53rd; Okemo Mtn, Eastern Series FIS, 3/25/19 SL – 15th Proctor FIS 12/31/18
2017-2018 GS – 4th; Wildcat Mountain, NHARA Qualifier, 2/3/18 SL – 2nd Pats Peak, Macomber Series, 1/28/18
2016-2017 GS – 13th, Cranmore Mtn, LaFoley Series; 2/26/17 SL – 6th, Waterville Valley, LaFoley Spring, 3/19/17
OTHER
Parents: Richard & Alison Vieira
Both from Trinidad
Sister: Ria Vieira