Emily Sarsfield has taken a liking to the medals that will be handed out at next year’s Olympics in Sochi – admitting just simply seeing pictures of them has put her into overdrive.
Organisers officially unveiled the medals for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the end of last month with a record number of 1,300 set to be manufactured.
Sarsfield, who specialises in ski cross, is hopeful she can get the chance to bid for one herself with the qualifying period for her discipline set to run until January.
The 29-year-old is well placed following a strong end to last season that saw her rank 17th at the World Championships and record three top-24 World Cup finishes.
Sarsfield will have five further World Cups to underline her case when the new season starts in December and she insists motivation certainly isn’t an issue.
“I’m in the gym twice a day at the moment training hard, just trying to build up more strength and power,” said Sarsfield, speaking at the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race.
“I’ll be back on skis in September ready for the start of the World Cup tour in December. Winter sports are not something we’re known as being good at but there are definitely gold medals out there.
“I came 17th at the last World Championships and had top-ten splits on the Olympic course, it really is kind of a good time for British winter sport and there is some real winter talent out there.
“I saw the new Olympic medals and they have made me train harder in the gym let me tell you that. It’s a really good motivator.
“I think I’m going to have it as a screensaver on my phone and that can be my ten-month countdown. I’m definitely looking to get a closer look at one of those.”
© Sportsbeat 2013
Photo credit Daniel Smye-Rumsby