Veteran Australian Olympian Phillip Bellingham has played a starring role in the spectacular Winter Games debut of ski mountaineering, the exhilarating but completely exhausting sport that won a new army of fans in Bormio.
Bellingham, who'd previously competed in three Olympics as a cross country skier, enjoyed being part of history on Thursday when he not only lined up in the debut of 'skimo' amid a winter wonderland snowfall, but also won the hearts of the crowd by giving his all to battle into the semi-finals of the sprint.
Not only that, but the popular 34-year-old known as 'Philpot', even went for broke in his semi-final, leading briefly with his glory-or-bust approach before his heroics efforts finally saw him burn out and finish last.
"I had gone all out in the quarter-final to get through. I got about halfway and I was completely cooked. There was nothing left in the tank," sighed Bellingham.
But even amid his exhaustion, he could smile: "It's been super-exciting, being part of all this.
"This is the best race I've ever had. To go through to the semi-final was a dream come true for me.
"There's been a lot more media attention and a bigger following, especially for me compared with cross-country, just because it's new for the Olympics."
The venerable sport, given a 21st century facelift, looks here to stay. Athletes had to weave through a set pattern before taking off their skis, powering up steps in their ski boots after storing skis in a backpack, and then putting them back on for another uphill sprint.
Then at the summit, it was all change to the equipment again before shooting downhill on the Stelvio course towards the finish line.
Bellingham, a ski patroller from Mount Beauty who grew up on Victorian snow fields, reckoned he was so mentally shattered by the program, he made a mess of putting his skis on and paid the price.
The other Aussie in action, Lara Hamilton, finished last in her heat before the first ever ski mountaineering champion was crowned - Switzerland's Marianne Fatton. Shortly after, Spain's Oriol Cardona Coll took the men's crown.
"It's a magical day," said Fatton, who's also the reigning world champion. "It's history for our sport, and for us as athletes -- and it's wonderful."
