Ohaco leads Chile´s Winter Olympics bid

Teenager Dominique Ohaco will be Chile´s main hope of an historic first medal in the Winter Olympics in Russia.

Sochi – The Games got underway today, though the opening ceremony takes place tomorrow. The 18-year-old will be Chile´s flag-bearer, leading a small team of six competitors.

Ohaco is a specialist in slopestyle, which combines jumps and somersaults over a course of 500 metres. She´s suggested as a possible medal hope thanks to the seventh place she achieved in the international classification of her event, which is making its Olympic debut.

She said: “I aspire to win a medal, but that will depend on my practice in Sochi and how things go on the day. My main objective is simply to compete well and I hope to represent Chile well.”

Before she competes on Tuesday, she can look forward to carrying the Chilean flag tomorrow.

She added: “I´m very happy they´ve chosen me because it is a big honour.”

If Ohaco has any Olympic nerves over the next few days, she could do worse than turn to compatriot Noelle Barahona for advice.

At the age of 23, Barahona is, remarkably, already preparing to compete in her third Olympics.

Her debut came at the age of 15 in Turin in 2006 and she also took part in Vancouver four years ago, where she finished 23rd. The skier is set to be one of Chile´s busiest performers in Sochi as she´s been pencilled in for five events.

The Chilean number one said: “I´ve prepared well and I´m very confident, above all for the giant slalom.”

Fellow skier Henrik Von Appen, 19, is also expected to take part in five competitions.

Eugenio Claro, 20, is another member of the skiing team, while Stephanie Joffroy, 22, competes in skicross.

The remaining member of the team is Jonathan Fernández, who has become the first Chilean to qualify in cross country. He´ll take part in the sprint over 1.8 k