That Valentino Guseli has qualified for the men’s snowboard halfpipe final has come as no shock to his household again house.
Whereas Aussies have come to like his massive character and equally massive hair, to his household, he is fairly the other.
“We simply know him as humble Val – we name him the zen grasp. He is a weapon,” his cousin Enrico Guseli advised 9’s As we speak on Thursday morning as he held a stuffed toy Yoda, which he mentioned reminded him of Val.
READ MORE: Jakara’s response to heartbreak only enhanced incredible legacy
READ MORE: Vonn shares gnarly photo after surgery on broken leg
READ MORE: Ange curse strikes twice as manager sacked after midnight
On Saturday morning (AEDT) in Livigno, half a world away from his household in Kianga on the NSW south coast, Guseli will be part of countryman Scotty James in going for gold within the males’s halfpipe remaining.
Guseli certified sixth for the boys’s snowboard halfpipe remaining. Getty
On Thursday morning (AEDT), James topped the qualifying rating sheet with a 94, whereas Guseli certified sixth with an 86.75.
“We’re immensely proud,” Enrico continued. “He is multi-talented within the three disciplines, so hopefully he can get into the slopestyle as properly, as a result of he is received rather a lot he can do in that, (he can do) numerous harm.”
His grandmother Glenda mentioned his jumps on Thursday morning have been “poetry in movement”, however admitted she nonetheless received nervous each time she watches him compete.
“Each time I watch him leap, I simply get very shaky throughout in case he will fall – I actually fear about him falling,” she mentioned.
Watch the Winter Olympic Video games Milano Cortina 2026 dwell and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, each occasion dwell & on demand, each medal in 4K, and unique worldwide protection on Stan Sport.
Valentino Guseli’s household converse to 9’s As we speak after the 20-year-old certified for the boys’s halfpipe remaining at Milano Cortina 2026. 9
“Nevertheless it’s so thrilling although. I am getting used to it slowly. How clean he does it, it is similar to poetry in movement. He is a phenomenal boy.”
She may need been shaking violently sufficient to register on the Richter scale after the 20-year-old crashed in an all-or-nothing crack at a medal in the snowboard big air final on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Glenda mentioned she had managed to talk to Val on a number of events.
“He is actually having fun with being there and what he is doing, being with all the opposite ones which can be snowboarding … they’re all good associates,” she mentioned.
“It is pretty to see how they encourage one another. Even when they do not make it, they’re nonetheless blissful for the opposite ones which can be successful. He is such a humble boy.”
His grandfather Guido mentioned associates at his favorite espresso store had advised him watching the 20-year-old compete had introduced all of them happiness.
“On the espresso store, and there was numerous previous folks like me saying ‘we got here alive due to Valentino’,” the beaming grandfather mentioned.
“They’re taking a look at his qualities. And that is what I have a look at. Sure, it is a good high quality and it cheers all people up. Makes everybody blissful.”
Whereas James will little doubt begin the halfpipe remaining as favorite, Guseli is a real probability to make it two Aussies on the rostrum.
However his household will not care the place he finishes.
“No matter occurs, we’re happy with him,” Glenda mentioned. “To us, he is a winner.”
“He is such a phenomenal boy, win or lose, it does not matter. He is already received.
“For us. He is he is already received.”
