Kostelic eyes two more World Cup seasons

ZAGREB (AFP) –

Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic, pictured in action on December 18, 2012, said Friday he was aiming to continue skiing the World Cup circuit for a further two seasons, which would see him going for an elusive Olympic gold medal at the 2014 Games in Sochi.

Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic said Friday he was aiming to continue skiing the World Cup circuit for a further two seasons, which would see him going for an elusive Olympic gold medal at the 2014 Games in Sochi.

The 2011 overall World Cup winner has been struggling with his problematic right knee, last operated on in February 2012, forcing him to skip large parts of his training regime.

“I can only ski at 70-80 percent of my potential,” the 33-year-old said ahead of Sunday’s World Cup slalom on his home Sjleme slope.

“But I’m not keen on a prolonged break because I want to keep my place in slalom’s group of excellence (for the top seven skiers) come season’s end.

“I also want to be among the 15 best giant slalom skiers and in the top 30 for super-G.”

Winner of 13 slaloms on the World Cup circuit despite eight surgeries during his career, Kostelic’s best result this season was fifth in Tuesday’s parallel slalom in Munich.

The Croat won silver medals in the slalom and super-combined in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and when asked to choose between victory on his home slope on Sunday or podium-topping success in Sochi, he replied with no hesitation: “Olympic gold.”