With the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games being postponed to 2021, we thought we could talk about some previous Olympians and how they embody certain Olympic values. This fourth post of seven features Kirsty Muir and how she demonstrates the values of equality and respect for her fellow competitors.
Kirsty Muir
Sport: Freestyle skiing
Hometown: Aberdeen, Scotland
At 15 years old, Kirsty Muir made her first appearance in the world of international freestyle skiing at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games. Her debut performance was a resounding success, and she placed second in the freestyle skiing big air competition. As the only British athlete to win an individual medal at this year’s Youth Olympics, Muir has already made a name for herself as an exceptional freestyle skier.
Muir was in line for a medal from the moment she stepped onto the snow, placing first after her initial run with a score of 82.50. Her performance stayed strong across runs two and three (in which she scored 78.50 and 87.50). However, she just lost out on the gold medal when she was closely defeated by China’s Ailing Eileen Gu. Gu’s score of 171.25 beat Muir’s by a mere 0.25 points, narrowly edging the young Brit out of first place.
Muir’s strong sense of Olympic equality makes her an inspiration for other young skiers
Muir’s strong sense of equality among all Olympic athletes means she holds no hard feelings against her fellow competitor. Speaking after the event, Muir said: ‘’I’m really happy with how I skied, I aimed for my best tricks and managed to put them down well – I’m just so delighted. I’m just so happy (with the silver), Eileen had some amazing runs and she’s a really great skier and was amazing today.’’
Muir hopes that the outstanding level of skill on display at the Youth Olympics will inspire others to take up skiing. As a firm embodiment of the Olympic values of respect, equality and, of course, excellence, there can be no doubt that Muir is at the start of a promising athletic career. Look out for her in future competitions, where she is sure to remain a strong medal prospect for Team GB!
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