Axel May, edited by Julien Moreau 06:12, February 18, 2023

At the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Courchevel, France's medal counter remains stuck at two units before the last weekend of competition.

And if France is not at the party during these Worlds at home, the "small nations" of skiing take advantage of the competition to make themselves known, have fun and progress.

At the World Ski Championships in Courchevel, France must be satisfied, for the moment, with two medals, including one in gold, brought back by Alexis Pinturault.

This Saturday, February 18, Les Bleues will struggle to shine in slalom, but this Sunday, the men's team will have more means to win a third medal.

For the moment, if France does not succeed in these Worlds organized at home, other countries are trying to make an impression.

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Pride in representing their home nation

With her ski outfit in the colors of Haiti, Céline Marti does not go unnoticed.

After the giant on Thursday, which she finished far behind the best, she is engaged in the slalom.

"There is pride in representing your country of origin and then there is the sporting aspect, being on the same track as the great champions like Mikaela Shiffrin or Lara Gut-Behrami, all my ski idols", explains Celine Martin.

Haiti, Thailand and Belgium at the Ski Worlds

In total, four skiers compete under the colors of Haiti, which is not the only small country represented at these world championships.

Madagascar, Thailand or even Belgium are at the start.

"A lot of people are surprised that we ski in Belgium. Because it's a flat country. But I always say that we had a rider, Lucien Van Impe, who won the best climber's jersey six times. Tour de France", reports Raymond Persyn, vice-president of the Belgian federation.

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Belgium also has three domes, that is to say indoor, covered, recent slopes, which make it possible to popularize skiing in the country.

The last success of a small alpine nation at the world championships was in 1999 when Australian Zali Stegall won the slalom.