Henderson rewarded for trials win with Olympic call

SKIING: Paul Henderson (Stewart’s Melville), the Scottish Schools’ Champion, is one of six Scots named in Team GB for the first Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck from 13-22 January.

The news marks a double boost for the 16-year-old, who has also been selected for the World Schools’ Championships at Gressonney in Italy in March,.

With only one alpine skiing spot available for the Winter Youth Olympics, Henderson faced tremendous pressure at the trials in Austria earlier this month.

“It was a great test to see who could cope with the pressure and bring out the performance of a lifetime,” said Henderson, who will turn 17 on 11 January.

“Things went to plan when I was the fastest on the first run and that helped settle a few nerves and give me an idea how I could push the boundaries a bit further.

“On the second run I upped the intensity and a mistake on the steepest part forced me out into the soft snow losing me the No 1 position in the overall times.

“Going into the third and final run I have never been under so much pressure in my life.

“After a quick talk with my coach I knew I had to give it absolutely everything. The run felt good but I was in doubt about whether it was quick enough. My efforts paid off, however, and I laid down one of the best runs of my life to win the trials by half a second.”

“Qualifying for the Winter Youth Olympics marks a massive leap forward in my skiing career and is a huge confidence boost.

“I hope the World Youth Olympics will present me the opportunity to take my skiing to the next level and allow me to compare myself to some of the best athletes in the world.

“Most of all, though, I hope it provides me with a stepping-stone to greater events and higher levels such as the World Cup circuit and the Olympics.”

Henderson, who is in his fifth year and studying for five Highers at Stewart’s Melville, spent last summer in Thredbo in Austria and won the Austrian Junior Slalom Champion.

He has four weeks training and racing in Norway before meeting up with rest of Team GB in Innsbruck.

The other Scots selected for Team GB are Calum Irvine (biathlon), Scott Dixon (cross country) plus the curling trio of Duncan Menzies, Thomas Muirhead and Rachel Hannen.