TNT Sports
Kjus confident for Torino
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Published 07/01/2006 at 14:08 GMT
Norwegian veteran Lasse Kjus returned to competition for the first time in more than a month at Adelboden on Saturday, saying he was determined to take part in the Turin Olympics. Kjus, who will turn 35 next month, has five Olympic medals from three Games
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He has battled lingering health problems.
His return ended in disappointment, however, as he skied out on the upper section of the treacherous Kuonigsbaergli slope after missing a gate in Saturday's giant slalom.
"I was hoping for more because I felt fine during the warm-up and at the start," said Kjus, who is not competing in Sunday's slalom.
His next target is Wengen where he will compete in a super-combined on Friday and a downhill on Saturday.
"I like the course in Wengen and I'm looking forward to that weekend," added Kjus who plans to retire after this season.
"My goal is to get back on form in time for the Olympics in February. If I'm healthy and in good shape, I'll definitely compete at Sestriere.
"I just hope it will not be as cold as last November. My lungs suffer a lot when the temperature is very low."
The two-times overall World Cup champion, who won two races last season, including the downhill at Lenzerheide, suffered from bronchitis and asthma in December, and had to move to a warmer climate to recover.
"I spent a few weeks in Lanzarote in the Canaries where it was warmer," he explained.
"The good weather helped me get back in shape. It's frustrating because I trained hard last summer and I was looking for another strong season."
Kjus has always shone at major events, capturing a total of 17 medals at Olympics and world championships since 1993.
At the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City he won a bronze medal in giant slalom and a silver in the downhill.
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