Eurosport, the leading sports entertainment group, has picked three potential breakthrough stars at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games in its list of ‘10 Future Stars in Sport’ for 2014. Norwegian skier Henrik Kristoffersen, German biathlete Laura Dahlmeier and German ski jumping sensation Gianina Ernst, who at 15 years old will become the youngest competitor in Sochi, are among 10 young prospects selected by Eurosport’s commentators and pundits for Eurosport Now!, a new publication to mark the broadcaster’s 25th anniversary.
Henrik Kristoffersen, 19, who won his first World Cup race last month in Schladming, Austria – an event televised by Eurosport – has the potential to become “the greatest slalom and giant slalom skier in the world,” according to Alexandre Pasteur, skiing commentator for Eurosport in France.
Eurosport’s Swedish biathlon commentator Tord Wiksten believes 20-year-old Dahlmeier has the temperament and shooting skills to take her to the top in the increasingly popular and competitive biathlon field.
Meanwhile Ernst, who stunned spectators and Eurosport viewers alike when she finished second in the small hill event on her World Cup debut in Lillehammer in December, is another one to watch in Sochi. She has been backed by Eurosport’s German commentator Marc Rhode to hit even greater heights in 2014.
American golfer Jordan Spieth, Romanian tennis ace Simona Halep, Russian swimmer Daria Ustinova, Polish road cyclist Michal Kwiatkowski, triple jumper Ana Peleteiro from Spain, English snooker player Shane Castle and Brazilian footballer Neymar, who has the potential to light up the 2014 Fifa World Cup in his home country, were also named in Eurosport Now!.
“It is amazing to think none of our 10 future stars had been born when Eurosport started broadcasting in 1989,” says Heather Bowler, Global Communications Director of Eurosport Group. “Neymar is already a big name, but with the Fifa World Cup in his home country, 2014 could be the year when he really reaches global superstar status and becomes a genuine Ballon d’Or contender. As for the others on the list, they may not be household names yet, but 2014 promises to be their breakthrough year. Whatever their fortunes in the future, our viewers can be certain that we will follow their careers.”
With a dedicated team of experts committed to providing unrivalled year-round LIVE coverage of 120 sports, Eurosport is better placed than any media platform to pick out future stars across the world of sport.
To find out what Eurosport’s experts said about the ‘10 Future Stars in Sport 2014’ and to read Eurosport’s 25th anniversary magazine Eurosport Now! click here (also available to download on mobile devices).
Eurosport will broadcast ‘DAVAI SOCHI’, its evening review show LIVE from Sochi at 20:00 & 22:00 CET every night during the Winter Olympics. For all breaking news, LIVE results, interviews and analysis visit the dedicated Sochi section on Eurosport.com.
(Source: press release)