VANCOUVER, Canada (Armenian Weekly), February 19—Armenia’s athletes are all in the same boat, trying to do their best, but with little exposure and much doubt from the outside nations on their abilities.

Kristine Khachatryan and Sergey Mikayelyan, both cross-country skiers, have already completed their respective events.

Khachatryan, in the ladies’ 10 km. free, started her race in the 78th position and finished 76th. Now, the most important aspect of this result is that she finished in a better position than she started in. Just by finishing, Khachatryan put Armenia on the map. Her name is on the result list, with the flag of her nation beside it. Seventy-sixth place means that she didn’t give up and beat the times of other national stars who started ahead of her.

Seventy-sixth isn’t the same as medaling, of course, but it is something every Armenian should be proud of.

Sergey Mikayelyan’s event, the men’s 15 km. free, brought with it international exposure, thanks to the American Olympic Broadcast station, NBC. Using words like “bright future,” the piece on Mikayelyan may have given the young, Russian-born Armenian national pressure to do well. Remember, he is only 17, and better things are yet to come.

He started from 76th place and battled the other competitors—and the elements (Vancouver, both downtown and in Whistler, saw freezing rain and heavy snowfall with winds)—to improve his standing to 70th place.

Disappointing for some spectators? Maybe, especially after the TV piece, but, as with his teammate, this is a good thing. Placing higher than he started, staying focused on the event and not letting the outside world affect him, Mikayelyan may not have had lived up to the expectations of the NBC piece, but he will in Olympics to come.

As for the alpine skiers—flag bearer Arsen Nersisyan and US-born Ani-Matilda Serebrakian—their events are next week. Nersisyan will compete in the men’s giant slalom on Feb. 23 at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) and in the slalom on Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. Serebrakian will compete in the ladies’ giant slalom on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. and in the slalom on Feb. 26 at 10 a.m.