Darta Zunte, representing Estonia in skeleton, is making her Olympic debut at the Winter Games in Cortina. After completing the first two heats, she holds an overall 23rd place, managing to stay ahead of two rivals. Despite facing difficulties throughout the two-week training period on the challenging Cortina ice track, Zunte has shown resilience in her first Olympic competition.

During her first run, Zunte clocked a time of 58.88 seconds but acknowledged that there were several mistakes that detracted from an otherwise ideal performance trajectory. The pressure of debuting on such a grand stage understandably contributed to her nerves, but Zunte managed to pull together for her second run, where she improved her time to 58.71 seconds. This performance is encouraging and signals her potential for better outcomes as she continues her Olympic journey.

As she prepares for the final two heats scheduled for Saturday, Zunte remains optimistic about her chances of advancing, hoping to build upon her improved performance. The determination and hard work she has displayed throughout her training and in her initial competition reflect her commitment to the sport and her ambition on such an international stage, representing Estonia on the Olympic front.