Darta Zunte, an Estonian skeleton athlete, made her Olympic debut at the Cortina Games, securing the 23rd position in her events. Despite finishing lower than expected, the president of the Estonian Bobsleigh Federation, Rein Esaul, acknowledged the challenges and noted that the expectations were set higher, indicating the federation's commitment to support athletes moving forward. Zunte's performance, with placements of 22nd in her early runs and 23rd in the last two, ultimately saw her trailing Olympic champion Janine Flock of Austria by 6.45 seconds.

Esaul expressed his appreciation for Zunte’s consistent performance throughout the season, where she usually ranked between 22nd and 25th. He had hoped for a better finish, particularly given the competitive nature of the event, but recognizes that the Olympic course posed its challenges with little room for errors. This experience is a significant milestone for Estonian sports, giving them a platform to showcase their talent and attract potential sponsors, particularly as Zunte is now ranked 23rd in the world.

Looking ahead, Esaul is optimistic that this exposure will lead to increased interest from sponsors as they aim to promote Estonian athletes. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of visibility in sports and how performances like Zunte's could enhance the federation's potential to secure support while developing future talent for international competitions.