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WHISTLER, British Columbia - The skier from Mexico was decades older than some of his fellow competitors. The one from the Cayman Islands took a three-week sabbatical from college just to compete.
And the skier from Georgia went down the course with a heavy heart.
These lower-tier skiers competing at the bottom of the start list in Tuesday's Olympic giant slalom race didn't have of a much chance to win. No chance at all, really.
They came for the thrill, the experience of a lifetime - and to learn from the masters of their chosen sport.
They were able to compete by accumulating enough International Ski Federation (FIS) points to meet the Olympic standards. That put them in a competition where they would start alongside racers like Switzerland's Carlo Janka, who won the event.
Their participation in the games is a way to open the door to developing nations and give them an incentive to build their programs and accelerate their athletes' progress.
It's also a way to meet the Olympic ideal that taking part is just as important...