The only representative of Ukraine in snowboarding at the 2026 Olympic Games, Annamarie Dancha, is now having one of the best seasons of her career. And on February 8, the experienced 35-year-old athlete will take the start of her fifth Games and try to win the first Olympic medal for herself and her country in parallel giant slalom.

Danca was a silver medalist at the 2019 World Championships, but in the regular parallel slalom, which is not included in the Olympic program. There are no such successes in giant, but the Ukrainian snowboarder is having a confident season. In December, Danca made her debut in the World Cup semi-finals. At the stage in Davos, Switzerland, she finished fourth for the first time in her career..

In total, this season the athlete from Transcarpathia was in the top 8 three times. And I really wanted her to take revenge for the previous Olympics in Beijing 2022, where she risked not getting to the start line at all due to a positive test for coronavirus and a spoke in the wheels from the organizers. After all, Annamarie subsequently received several negative tests, but she was not immediately allowed to take part in the qualifying race.

Only after the intervention of the Ukrainian delegation was Danchi allowed to start separately, about which the snowboarder was informed five minutes before the first attempt: “I got ready as best I could. I drove weakly. When I saw the time, I was horrified" Only 26th place was a painful disappointment for the Ukrainian, but recent years have taught her a lot.

“I have come to terms with the fact that my path is longer than others, but it is no less interesting. The main thing that I lacked for a long time was self-confidence.. I learn, work on mistakes, focus and strive for more. Sometimes it turns out better, sometimes it turns out worse, but I go my own way. I also help the team grow, and this makes me happy,” Danca told FIS.

During the opening ceremony of the Olympics, Annamarie carried the Ukrainian sign in Livigno. And I want to believe that the fifth Games will be happy for her, and the Ukrainian will significantly improve her 16th place in Vancouver 2010. Moreover, she quite liked the track in Italy.

" I expected it to be not so fast, but more gentle. But I like faster tracks. During the two descents that we were given to do, I felt everything I needed. I think I’m ready,” the athlete noted in a comment to Suspilny..

But due to the snow that fell in Livigno, the conditions of the track may still change, because the snow was a little broken, whereas it should be very hard, close to ice or ice. Therefore, it is quite possible that the organizers will flood the track with water or make adjustments in other ways.

“For some reason they make all the Olympic tracks with such “shelves”. It is not like any other Olympic course. Basically, it doesn't look like anything.. But it’s good, standard, perfectly made,” says Annamarie.

Qualification for parallel slalom in snowboarding will begin on February 8 at 10:00 Kyiv time. The 1/8 finals are scheduled for 14:00.