WOW…Just WOW!
Walking out from underground to greet the world with the biggest smile on my face thinking,
I made it, i am here… I am an Olympian! That is what the opening ceremony ment to me and getting to walk out as 1 of 60 very proud aussies wearing green and gold was such an honor and an unforgetable experience.
2014 SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS…
ARRIVAL:
I arrived in the village around midnight living on about 3 hours of plane sleep but once we touched down in Sochi the excitement took over and it was all happening and so real. I could hardly calm down and go to bed as i just wanted to check out all our uniforms and goodie bags.
DAY 1:
Today we had the our Australian flag raising/Welcome ceremony and Official Australain Team Reception where we were all presented with our Australian Olympic Team Plaques and the Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer was anounced.
I was so thankful to have mum and dad there in the crowds of media, officials, coaches and other parents watch me walk on stage in my Australian Olympic uniform and receive my olympic plaque. It may have brought a tear to my dad and coach’s eyes but i am so happy they were all there to see me achieve my dream with all the time, effort, sacrifices and enjoyment.
Here are some shots from around the village today during the Flag Raising Ceremony.
Today the Australian Olympic Committee announced the 2014 Sochi Australian team and i am so very proud to say i am part of that team.
My road to Sochi has ended because I am getting on that flight!
Thank you to absolutely everyone involved in my life supporting me from a National Gymnast to Olympic Snowboarder in 6 years. Bring on the Green and Gold Olympics in Russia!
The final olympic qualifier was in Quebec Canada. For the past 2 years at this World Cup in Stomeham it has been dumping snow with temps dropping as low as -30 to this year +1 and raining.
with 2 interesting training days riding in challenging conditions similar to Australia, soaking wet in the rain and then frozen solid the next day. Luckly Comp day the pipe was still a bit icy but in perfect shape and it was Game On.
I landed both my runs but was unable to better my 2nd run score and finished the day with 50.0 in 16th place as the 2nd highest ranked Australian at the event meaning i pretty much secured my spot to sochi.
The Official Australian Olympic Team is announced on 24th January.
For the first time in 4 years since i missed the 2009/10 northern season due to my Shoulder Reconstruction i flew back home for an amazing 11 days of Summer with my family.
Beach, Pool, Boats, Jetskis, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing, Canoes, Friends, Family and most of all i got to spend 11 awesome days with my little baby Sochi!
Copper didnt go as well as i would have liked. We had night training to prepare us for a night competition all under lights which i loved.
Unfortunatly i fell on my first run and just didnt land my second run clean leaving me in 36th place!
Ruka Finland is 60km (37miles) south of the Arctic Circle and only gets about 3 hours of daylight in the winter. Last year the world cup was canceled due to lack of snow and this year i traveled to Santa’s home and the closest i have been to the arctic circle.
I was in Ruka for 4 days and so far its the coldest place i have ever been to with temps as low as -33C (-27F) and everyday was a different weather condition which made training quite interesting.
After landing my first run not at my best and unfortunatly falling in my 2nd run, i finished in 14th place missing Semi-finals by 2 places.
Not having the best result i could have achieved in Finland i am still so happy i got to travel, compete and experience a whole new world that Ruka is.
On Air for the first time with Channel 10 Wake Up Morning Show.
Check out my interview!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIih_uJkszw
http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/wake-up/extra/season-2013/22-nov-stephanie-magiros-interview
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/sun-surf-and-sand-set-the-scene-for-sochi-snow/story-e6frg7mf-1226761393802
Check out some shots from The Australian Newspaper of our training session on Warriewood Beach Last week.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/10/25/olympic-dream-aussie-snowboarder-magiros
Fearless 22-year-old Steph Magiros has always wanted to be an Olympian – she just wasn’t sure how.
The most obvious choice seemed to be gymnastics. As a talented junior the Sydney native achieved enormous success at a national level. Twisting, flipping, spinning and landing on mats and beams was part of her childhood.
Just five years ago Magiros tried snowboarding for the first time, and, as her dad Harry Magiros fondly recalls, it was a light-bulb moment.
“One day she came home and said ‘Dad I know how I want to go to the Olympics’. She showed me a video of Torah Bright going down the half pipe and I said – yes that looks like gymnastics, you can do that,” he says.
It was a realization that has unlocked her Olympic dream. For the last few years Magiros has searched the globe, hunting powder to refine her skills on the half pipe.
It’s been a steep learning curve for the 150 centimetre snowboarder. A dislocated shoulder, a few concussions- but “thankfully none recently,” Steph is always keen to point out.
Spending nine months of the year overseas in Vale, Perisher, and Cardrona has been testing for both athlete and parents. Her family dread the late night phone calls.
“It’s heart-wrenching sometimes, being on the other side of the world,” Harry Magiros says.
And Steph occasionally feels the distance to be overwhelming.
“It is hard sometimes. When I get down I jump on Skype and talk to them. I try to just get it out of my system and finish that day and focus on the new one,” she says.
Amongst all the challenges there have been plenty of highlights – carrying the flag at the World Championships in Quebec, placing in the top 10 in Park City at the 2013 World Cup and landing her first Switch Inverted 720 in competition are all fond memories.
But the ultimate rush is when she’s in the half pipe.
“It is amazing, it feels just like flying.”
In just her first tilt at an Olympics the diminutive snowboarder is hoping to soar all the way into the Australian team in Sochi.
With the top four females set to go through and Magiros currently ranked third, she has a great chance of advancing. Her mother Helen Magiros, is doing everything she can to get her there.
“She is sitting pretty at the moment. We are just keeping up her training, keeping her healthy, strong and in one piece. The spot should be hers.”
Magiros will find out in January if she has achieved her dream of representing her country at an Olympics.
Athlete BIO
Name: Steph Magiros
Age: 22
Nickname: “Munchkin”
Years active: Five
Event: Half Pipe (Women)
Lives: Vail, Cadrona, Perisher, Sans Souci
Twitter: @stephmagiros
