Venezuelan skier unfazed by ruckus over championship performance
Venezuelan skier Adrian Solano has returned home, unfazed by a diplomatic flap and jeers on social media for his wobbly performance in the Nordic World Ski Championships.
"It was a grandiose experience. I know I was the target of mockery, but I am proud," he told AFP on his arrival from Finland Saturday night in his hometown of Maracay.
Videos showing Solano barely able to stay up on his skis during the competition shot around the world, along with headlines proclaiming him the "world's worst skier."
"I was super nervous. When I went on the course, there was no turning back, I had to go forward," said Solano, who vowed to continue competing.
The 22-year-old had never seen snow before participating in the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland, under way since February 22. He says he trained on skis with wheels.
"I began backwards: a world championship first," he said.
He made his debut on Wednesday in cross-country. After falling several times, he was forced to withdraw. On Thursday, he completed the sprint, coming in last.
Solano's adventure has raised questions in Venezuela, where people are struggling with food shortages and roaring inflation.
Pictures on the internet showed him in military uniform carrying a gun and in the red T-shirts and berets worn by supporters of the late Hugo Chavez.
"How much will this have cost Venezuelans? A case to be investigated because for sure behind it is someone plugged in" to the government, wrote opposition leader and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.
Solano denies having received government funding.
"People don't know that I also stand in line from the break of day to buy food, and that I worked three jobs for a year to pay the fare for my first attempt," he said.
Solano had tried to fly to Sweden to train on snow, but his plans went awry while he was in transit in Paris on January 19.
French police didn't believe he was a skier and deported him. His trainer said they laughed at him.
That set off a diplomatic ruckus, with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez lodging a "strong protest" with the French government, calling Solano's treatment an "affront to a Venezuelan sportsman."
Solano said a Finnish businessman, Aleksi Valavouri, raised money for his second trip on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe.
"I've received support from people in Russia, Ukraine, Portugal. It's incredible. Regrettably, more than in Venezuela because everything gets politicized here," he said.
"I dared to do something by myself for myself."