Another remarkable success for Romania at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. A career best and hopes are rekindled on Thursday. “Wow, that was really, really good”

Romania's representative Julia Sauter qualified for the free program in the women's figure skating event at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, writes News.ro.

With 63.13 points, Julia obtained the best result of her career in the short program. At 28 years old, the skater who represents Romania entered the ice on Tuesday evening in the short program and managed a solid evolution, which earned her the qualification in the free program, scheduled for Thursday evening.

• Of German nationality, Julia Sauter received Romanian citizenship last year.
• Also on Tuesday evening, Mihai Tentea and George Iordache ranked 5th in the two-person bobsled event, the best result recorded by Romania in the last 50 years at the Winter Olympics

“This morning, I already felt very prepared”

“Today, the short program felt just like home practice. I went on the ice and said, 'Okay, do exactly what you do in practice — and maybe a little bit more.' But the training here was exactly the same. This morning, I already felt very prepared. In fact, I had to hold back and focus on the present instead of living in the future. When I landed the Lutz–toe loop, I thought, “Wow, that was really, really good.” I had a brief memory from the European Championships. But we've been training so well that the loop is solid again. I was simply happy to be here. Of course, there was a certain pressure, because we knew that the competition here is very strong. But I kept repeating to myself that I don't identify with whether I reach the final or not, because the road to get here was very difficult — and that road is what really matters. The only thing was that I felt very prepared and I really wanted to prove it. And now, finally, it worked. This season, the short program has always been a bit difficult for me. And now it worked at the most important competition,” Julia said, according to Golden Skate.

“I'm really trying to enjoy my time here”

She says that by attending the Olympic Games she is living her dream.

“Honestly, it all started with receiving the Olympic equipment. You prepare for so long and when you're trying to stay in the present and go through the steps to get here, you don't always think too much about the future. But then the equipment arrived, I traveled here for the first time, there was the opening ceremony – there was already so much positive energy. What really impresses me is how everything works behind the scenes. It's the only opportunity I can live in this experience and I'm really trying to enjoy my time here. Today, my husband and my mother were in the arena, and that was very special,” said Julia Sauter.