Figure Skating
At the start of the Nebelhorn Trohpy, which will open its doors on Thursday, stands out the presence of a pair of artistic flying the Turkish flag.
Tuesday 24 September 2013 7 minutes reading time
The mere creation of a Turkish couple would be a reason of undisputed interest because there is no precedent to that effect, but the story of Bestandigova / Mansiz provides enough material for a film script.
Olga Bestandigova, thirty-four native of Bratislava, was seven times national champion Slovak with his brother Josef. He took part in the Olympic Games of 2002, after which, not yet twenty-three, he abandoned the competitions. Started racing again in the fall of 2004, again teamed with his brother, he failed to qualify for the Olympics in Turin and has decided to retire exactly a year later.
Ilhan Mansiz, thirty-eight German Kempften, but turkish origins and nationalities, was a high-level player. Among other things, played a leading role during the 2002 World Cup in which he dragged Turkey to the semifinals and is then decisive result in the match against the hosts Korea earned a historic third place. Mansiz, center grew strongly competitive in Germany, has taken a downward turn in 2004, held back by the aftermath of a devastating car accident and by repeated knee injuries, which they obliged to put an end to his career.
Olga and Ilhan have crossed paths for the first time their destinies in the fall of 2007, when both were invited to participate in the TV show "Buzda Dans", the Turkish version of the famous British format "Dancing on Ice". To draw, were mated and Bestandigova has become the de facto partner on the ice and teacher Mansiz, who played in thirty-two springs wore shoes for the first time. Between the two is immediately created a great feeling that led them to become a couple in life and to win the reality. Meanwhile, gave rise to the idea of ​​trying to get into the game and shortly thereafter the former footballer announced the ambitious goal to qualify for the Olympic Games of 2014.
In fact, before you start to train at full speed it took a couple of years, during which Mansiz, tickled by the idea of ​​returning to his first love sports, has privileged shoes with cleats shoes. However, since the beginning of January 2010 the association began making bizarre things seriously and progress has been amazing to the point that stores a first bracket between Oberstdorf and Garmsich Partenkirchen, they moved to Scottsdale Arizona to train with Doug Ladret, former skater and technical in the past couple of different athletes of a good standard including Trent / Vise, first pair able to land a quadruple Salchow launched in the race. Just Tiffany Vise, assisted by the last Ice partner Don Baldwin, has personally over the last couple of months.
The long-awaited debut in the race will take place at the occasion of the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Olympic qualifying test that will award four seats for the show of Sochi. Among other things, the famous German is only forty kilometers from Kempften, birthplace of former footballer.
If the Turkish couple could participate in the Olympic Games in Sochi, Mansiz should be to establish some sort of record as never before an athlete has taken part in the World Cup and the Winter Olympics. "We do not expect to win a medal," said Mansiz to "The Guardian", "but the mere participation in the Olympic Games would have a meaning comparable if not superior to a victory. Would be an important lesson for everyone because if you believe in a goal and work hard you can try to reach him at any age. Suffice it to say that, before the age of 32, I did not know of the existence of the rink almost. "
At the moment, Olga Bestandigova is not in possession of Turkish citizenship, critical to get the Olympic eligibility, however, if the pair manages to qualify for Sochi also reaching the minimum technical score set by the ISU, the government would turkish ready an exception to the provision for sporting merit.
After the Nebelhorn, the couple turkish / Slovak intend to compete nell'Ondrej Nepala Trophy Bratislava, possibly in the Golden Spin of Zagreb and to follow in the national championships. Minimum technical permitting, there is also the participation in the European Championships in Budapest and the World Championships in Saitama.
The Nebelhorn Trophy will be broadcast live and exclusive from the satellite network Eurosport (channels 211 and 212 of the SKY platform).
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