Abigail Vieira is the first ever athlete from Trinidad & Tobago to participate at a Youth Olympic Games, and the first Alpine Skier from TTO to participate at any Olympic event
Abigail Vieira competed in her first ever Olympic race today, when she started in the Super G race. She wore bib number 46, which means 45 other athletes raced down the course before her. It was a technical, challenging course and 12 racers did not finish the race, due either to disqualifications or crashes. Abigail had a strong start, then lost a little bit of time in the middle section, to finish out strongly on the last pitch, including a challenging jump coming into the final turns. Abigail was in 37th place when she crossed the finish line, and later settled onto the 42nd spot for her final ranking, out of 62 competitors.
Abigail Vieira Quotes from 10/01/2020:
On how it felt to ski in an Olympic Race, representing Trinidad & Tobago:
“This is the greatest day of my Life!”
On the race:
“It was good, the snow was great, the course was really rhythmic and easy to follow, it was fun!”
“At the beginning I tried to push myself a little more, I was feeling the speed, and just thought Keep
On Going… coming off the last jump I felt like I could have gone a little bit more…”
On the next races coming up:
“It feels great. Just got the first jitters out on the first run and now I am ready for what’s to come.”
On having her family here:
“It’s so great to have your family there, they are such a great support system”
Other info:
Abigail Vieira’s Youth Olympic mission is a family affair: her Team staff includes her Father Richard Vieira as Chef de Mission, her sister Ria Vieira as assistant coach, and her mother Alison Vieira as support staff. Her coach is Lori Ford, mother of an ex Olympian from USA. Abigail is further supported by team staff Mirella Arnhold, Ex-Alpine Skier and first ever Olympian in that discipline for Brazil (2002 and 2006). The team is completed by Nick Lau, a Nordic skier for Trinidad & Tobago, and secretary general of the Trinidad & Tobago Snowsports Federation, as well as Austrian Olympic Games Organizing committee veteran Veronika Muehlhofer, as press attaché.
Preview for tomorrow: on January 11th, Abigail will compete in the Alpine Skiing combined slalom race, starting at 12:30.
Schedule and results: https://www.lausanne2020.sport/results (click on Alpine skiing)
Information and Explanations about the sport: https://www.lausanne2020.sport/en/sports/alpine_skiing
Photo Gallery: https://teamtto.org/index.php/photo-gallery/category/86-2020-winter-youth-olympics
Video Gallery: https://teamtto.org/index.php/ttoc-tv-channel
Photo and Video Credits: Veronika Muehlhofer @www.ttoc.org
Professional Photos from Lausanne 2020: www.oisphotos.com
Olympic Information Service’s Feature story about Abigail Vieira, on the front page of the Lausanne 2020 Website: https://www.lausanne2020.sport/en/news/alpine-skiing/alpine_skier_becomes_first_trinidad_and_tobago_athlete_to_compete_at_winter_yog
Team Contact:
TTO NOC Press Attaché: Veronika Muehlhofer
E-mail: veronikam@millionsports.com
Tel.: +41 78 685 0271
Web & Social:
News and Results: www.lausanne2020.sport
Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee:
Website: https://teamtto.org/
Instagram: teamtto
Facebook: @TeamTTO Twitter: @TTOlympic
Lausanne 2020: Instagram: @lausanne2020 Facebook: @lausanne2020
Abigail Vieira:
Instagram: Abbyyvi
Facebook: @Abbyyvi #islandskier
TTSF:
Facebook: Trinidad and Tobago Snowsports Federation Athlete Biography:
Abigail “Abby” Vieira
PERSONAL
Birthdate: August 9th 2002
Height: 5’ 4”
Hometown: Winchester, MA
Language: English (native); Spanish (basic)
ACADEMIC:
High school: Holderness School
School address: Plymouth, NH
GPA: 96.20
Honors: High Honors – 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19
Leadership: Elected School President 2019 – 2020
Varsity Soccer – Captain
Eastern Alpine Ski Team – Captain
Sports: Soccer, Alpine Ski, Lacrosse
College: Accepted to Williams College Class of 2024
ALPINE SKI HISTORY
FIS points (12/18/19): SL: 148.61
GS: 154.46 SG: 219.24
Teams: Began ski racing at 8 years old Loon Race Team 2010-16
Holderness Eastern Alpine USSA 2016-2018
Holderness FIS 2018 to present
Currently skis as a T&T National at the FIS (International level)
Disciplines: Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G
Results overview: • Competing on the international circuit
• Attained Olympic qualification point levels in the first year
Best results (last 3 years)
2018-2019 GS – 53rd; Okemo Mtn, Eastern Series FIS, 3/25/19 SL – 15th Proctor FIS 12/31/18
2017-2018 GS – 4th; Wildcat Mountain, NHARA Qualifier, 2/3/18 SL – 2nd Pats Peak, Macomber Series, 1/28/18
2016-2017 GS – 13th, Cranmore Mtn, LaFoley Series; 2/26/17 SL – 6th, Waterville Valley, LaFoley Spring, 3/19/17
OTHER
Parents: Richard & Alison Vieira
Both from Trinidad
Sister: Ria Vieira
Other activities Football, Lacrosse, Cooking, Crossfit