Podborski named Canadian team’s chef de mission
Posted February 10, 2012 3:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY — Steve Podborski was named the Canadian team’s chef de mission for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Friday.
The former downhill skier competed in two Olympic Games and won bronze in downhill in 1980.
Podborski, 54, was an an assistant chef de mission to Natalie Lambert at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.
Podborski was the first North American man to win the overall World Cup downhill title in 1982.
When he was a member of the Canadian men’s ski team in the 1980s, they were known on the World Cup circuit as the “Crazy Canucks” for their aggressive skiing style.
The chef de mission is the team leader and spokesperson for the country’s athletes while they’re competing at the Games.
They support athletes in times of crisis and speaks daily to media about the team’s performances.
Former swimmer Mark Tewksbury is Canada’s chef de mission for this year’s Summer Games in London.
