Tuesday, January 15, 2002
Unfinished business for Farley
Salt Lake a last shot at glory for cross-country skier
By RON MANZ -- Calgary Sun
The Salt Lake Winter Olympics will be the last great challenge for Calgary's Donald Farley.
The 31-year-old veteran of Canada's cross-country ski team will compete in his second and last Olympic Games next month.
Farley intends to retire at the end of this season and he wants his last Olympic experience to be much more positive and successful than his first.
"I got really sick in Nagano in 1998," Farley said recently during a break from training.
"I developed a very high fever the day before I was to race the 30-km event. I probably shouldn't have competed but I knew if I didn't, I likely wouldn't make any other events.
"I raced and came in 61st but I dug myself such a deep hole health-wise, I couldn't get back out. It spelled the end of my Olympic experience in Japan and I left with not very positive memories. I intend to change all that this time."
Farley actually retired from the national team last spring despite having qualified for this winter's Olympic games. He had tired of dealing with the squad's internal politics and decided it was time to enter the workforce full time.
Initially, he had no success landing a job and by June had re-thought his position, deciding to return to the team.
He committed himself to one more winter of training -- and one last chance to erase the bad memories of Nagano.
"I am exactly where I want to be going into these games. I have completed a lot of high-altitude training and living the past month and a half. I believe I am at my peak condition at the moment and I'm ready to take on the world.
"The fact I'm the only male cross-country skier to qualify for these Olympics from Canada is a bit of a downer. I would prefer there were other guys going with me but there aren't. I don't think there's any added pressure because I'm the only Canadian, though. No one really expects me to do a lot, so the only pressure I face is that which I put on myself."
Farley has not specialized in either the classic or skate events of cross-country. He competes in both. But if he's on his game, his best event is the 30-km classic.
"I really think I prefer the classic event and the 30-km distance the best. It's the one I seem to have the most success in. If I can maintain this level I'm at right now, I truly believe I can do very well in this event at the Olympics."
When the Games are in the history books, Farley will pack away his competitive cross-country skis for good.
He hopes to land a marketing job in the oil and gas business in Calgary.
"I have definite goals for myself," added the native of Lorraine, Que., who moved to Alberta 10 years ago to train.
"I am focusing on achieving them and hopefully surpassing them. It's important to have good results and do my best for my own peace of mind but also to prove all the effort and money put into my development was worth it. I want everyone to be proud of what I hope to accomplish.
"It's just a matter of going out and doing it now."
2002 Games Cross Country Skiing Coverage
