Jackie Chamoun Competes in Sochi, Lets Skiing Do the Talking
Jackie Chamoun insisted her mind was solely on skiing Friday as she competed in the Olympic slalom, days after footage of a topless photo shoot caused an uproar in the country.
The 22-year-old finished the first of two runs in 58th place and said she had received plenty of support from people in Sochi and in Lebanon.
Last week, video footage emerged online of a three-year-old photo shoot that showed the skier posing topless in ski boots and skis in Faraya mountains.
The images sparked a flap in Lebanon, including a ministerial demand for an investigation.
But Chamoun said the scandal back home was of no importance as she took part in her second Winter Olympics.
"Seriously, I didn't think about that at all today. I was here, happy to do the race and I was focused," said the trim skier.
"I mean, it happened but I put this to the side for the moment and I just focused on my race. I'm happy to be here, I cannot think about something else right now. (The race) is the best thing you can think about, you just have to focus.
"Small things are not going to disturb me even if it was a big story in my country. I just continue, it's not a big obstacle."
The photographer behind the risque shoot, Hubertus von Hohenlohe -- who will compete in the men's slalom on Saturday -- had defended the pictures on Thursday.
"I don't think the photos are offensive. It's a shame because I believe we did nothing wrong," he told Agence France Presse.
Despite the initial outcry, Chamoun said plenty of people had expressed their support for her.
"I got a lot of messages from Lebanese people on Facebook, on social media, just telling me: 'We don't need your medal, we don't need you to win, we're just glad that you represent the country and you do it very well'."
"So a lot of them are proud of me and are happy to see me here."
Members of Lebanon's Olympic committee and ski federation, as well as friends, also came to see her race, "so it's nice to see Lebanese supporters in the crowd."
Chamoun, wearing a white catsuit with pink webbing, a light blue helmet and fluorescent yellow goggles, raced in 87th place and was the last one down the Rosa Khutor course.
But she punched the air on arrival and beamed at the crowd as if her time of 1min 16.05sec -- a full 23.43sec behind leader Mikaela Shiffrin -- was enough for gold.
"I always do (that) when I finish a run at world championships or Olympics," she said.
"It's a great feeling just to be able to participate in these events so crossing the finish line is even better and I like to show my due to everyone."
With 25 racers failing to make it down the course, Chamoun finished third from last, ahead of South Korean Kang Young-Seo and Iran's Forough Abbasi.
"But I did my best, at least I finished the run. It's just the best feeling to cross the finish line, I'm glad and I hope to do better in the second run."
On her left wrist she wore two colorful bands, proclaiming "Live love Beirut" and "Live love Lebanon".
"I'm just wearing them to show everyone that I'm proud to be Lebanese," said the skier.
21 February 2014, 22:03
05
Making it to the Olympic makes her a winner.... We are all proud of Jackie
22 February 2014, 00:01
11
I will always support Lebanese athletes wherever they compete and in whatever sport. But please, let's begin training now and send someone who can finish better than 58th place.
22 February 2014, 03:20
02
placing 58 is a better place than where Lebanon is in all other metrics (security, sovereignty, telecommunications, education, ..... you name it and you realize that Jackie's finish is a rare positive thing Lebanon is witnessing)
22 February 2014, 09:15
02
My friend, I am talking about instead of building shopping malls, bars and nightclubs in Lebanon, we need to allocate some of these resources and energies towards building sport centers, promoting athletic discipline and train the Lebanese youths to give them a chance of winning in the Olympics and better represent Lebanon instead of praising someone for just participating in the Olympics with dismal standing. I am not saying that it is not a positive thing. I'll give Jackie a pat on the back, but nothing more or less. We should expect more from our people.
22 February 2014, 02:50
00
Given that she probably did this as a happy, and with minimal financial support in training, etc, it's a great place to be. go Jackie!
22 February 2014, 04:55
00
Good on you Jackie. Show those haters and critics how to get a life and move to better things. They prefer car bombs and mutilations and still live in the dark ages which where they want Lebanon to be. If that's what they want, then Australia would love to have you here and leave them all behind. Always proud of you.
22 February 2014, 05:10
05
With or without a medal, she is the most famous skier - at least here in Vancouver :)
22 February 2014, 10:36
00
Well...at least you re good at something... (nude modeling that is..)
22 February 2014, 13:02
00
Vincent, why do you compete in the Olympics and show everyone what you can do. amazing negative attitude, which some of the Lebanese have and proud of. Good for talk with no action. If you can't be supportive, then step aside and mind in your own business. I think you are one of the Lebanese geniuses'.
22 February 2014, 14:05
00
Unfortunately Vincent, what you so appropriately propose will fall on deaf ears because Lebanon is not about cultivating smart, strong, independent, curious, etc...youth. What Jackie did for Lebanon is show that we can if we want to. Even she admits that it's difficult to compete on this global stage bc of the lack of training facilities in Lebanon. It's actually sad. You have an example of someone who wants to represent, someone who is trying but with a country that doesn't back her up and in fact makes an issue over non naked pics. It is simply ridiculous. A shame really. The problem is, most ppl would rather go to shopping malls, clubs and bars than invest in the future of Lebanon and it's youth and ultimately an athletics program that is geared toward developing, nurturing and supporting future champions. The bar needs to be set higher but folks there are stuck in their status quo bubble and don't ask for more bc they are just happy to be alive for one more day.
22 February 2014, 14:06
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Vincent, unfortunately, what you so appropriately propose will land on deaf ears.
22 February 2014, 14:19
00
How come no one is talking about our second Lebanese representative at the Olympics? Would he get more air time if he posed half naked? Total double standard! Way to go Alexandre!!
http://m.sochi2014.com/en/athlete-alexandre-mohbat
22 February 2014, 14:20
03
Jackie Chamoun for president! At least she knows how to rally both March camps around her in support.
22 February 2014, 17:58
00
It is a shame to see people talking about her as if she has bombed the country and cause the civil war. Don't agree with what she did? fine, but don't label her and oust her like a plagued person. She did not hurt anyone, she just practiced her personal freedom, isn't that what Lebanon should stand for?!
Bravo Jackie, keep up the great efforts.
