site.btaSnowboarder Zamfirova Says She Does Not See Herself as Phenomenon

Sixteen-year-old Malena Zamfirova, who finished fourth and fifth in the two starts of the Alpine Snowboard World Cup in Bansko, said she does not see herself as any kind of phenomenon. She did, however, congratulate her older brother Tervel Zamfirov, who on Sunday claimed his first-ever World Cup victory. Zamfirov beat the most experienced member of the Bulgarian team, Radoslav Yankov, in the semifinals, while Yankov later went on to secure third place.

"I had a worse qualification than yesterday and therefore met Ramona earlier," Zamfirova said, referring to Ramona Hofmeister, who stopped her in the quarterfinals. "But I am satisfied with fifth place. There are only four girls ahead of me. I would not say I am disappointed, although I could have done better. The only one who could not have done better was my brother. First place is the best possible. Today’s race was harder than yesterday’s because the course was more technical and the surface was firmer."

“There was nothing to say to my brother, he rode perfectly. I just hugged him and told him I love him. I do not see myself as something special; I have simply been trained the right way. Yes, I am fast; yes, I am the youngest and no one has entered world-level sport at this age before, but I see myself as a normal girl. I do not feel special, I am like the other kids, I just do well at what I do," she added.

"What I liked most today was the semifinal between [Radoslav Yankov] Rado and [Tervel Zamfirov] Teri. It did not matter who won, because one of them would go to the final and Bulgaria was guaranteed a medal. Teri won, but I would not have been less happy if Rado had won. Teri also won the big final, and I am already used to his victories at world championships. All the bad thoughts from my poorer run disappeared from my head. He performed very well in the final on the more difficult course. He has helped me a lot and paved the way for me. We have similar technique and he shows me many things," Zamfirova said.

Asked about her mindset ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which will be her first Olympic Games, she replied:

"At the Olympics, as at any other competition, I go there to win, not to lose. I have no expectations. I am going there to ride fast and I hope to perform well. The downside is that I am alone and everything is on my shoulders. With the men it’s easier, they have a strong team: Rado, Teri, Alexander Krushniak. The other guys are pushing too. Even if one falls, the others remain. I am alone. But since Rado managed on his own for years, I believe I can do it too," the teenager concluded.