My name is Flora Dolci, and I come from Briançon in the Hautes-Alpes (also known as the paradise of the sun according to me 😉). I'm 24 years old, and I've been on the French team since I was 16.
I started cross-country skiing in middle school. I had been doing alpine skiing since I was very young, but I didn't really like the atmosphere, so I wanted to try cross-country skiing, and I simply loved it! Then, little by little, I climbed the ranks leading to the French Teams. First, good regional races, then national ones, then international ones starting with the European Cups, then the World Championships, and the World Cups.
Last year was an incredible season for me! I achieved my first Top 10 in the World Cup, I finished 13th in the World Championships (which for us cross-country skiers is an event that takes place every 2 years). I also had many Top 15 finishes throughout the winter on the World Cup. In short, I was on cloud nine!
This year, I was determined to repeat these great performances but without any pressure! I really wanted to push myself to the limit without putting too much pressure on myself and letting stress take over! And it turned out that this mindset paid off because I'm having an even crazier season than last year!
My World Cup season started in Ruka, Finland. At the end of November, in icy conditions (-20°C), a 20km Skate race was on the schedule. Crossing the finish line, with frozen whiskers, I secured a lovely 15th place, which brought me immense joy.
The following weekend, we headed to Galliväre, Sweden, a new race site for us. On the finish line of the 10km skate, the clock showed me in 12th place, yet another pleasant surprise! Then, we hit the Swedish roads to Östersund, and this time it was the pinnacle for me! Crossing the finish line in 4th place, just 3 seconds shy of the podium!! A huge surprise for me and infinite happiness!!!
A sickness after the first 4 weekends of the World Cup prevented me from participating in one of the most important stages of the World Cup: the Tour de Ski, which is characterized by a series of 8 races over 10 days and especially concludes with the ascent of Alpe Cermis (a downhill ski slope that is ascended).
Over the course of a year, our training comprises 850 hours of cross-country skiing, running, roller skiing, strength training, and other sports. The core of our preparation is particularly in the summer, where we complete months approaching 100 hours of training. To handle this training volume, recovery times are crucial, although it's not always easy to implement. As someone who really enjoys being active, I sometimes struggle with "rest" and inactivity... but I'm working on it!
Regarding stress, it's also a significant factor in performance. Indeed, stress can lead to fatigue, athlete devaluation, and consequently, underperformance. It's important to surround oneself with the right people and implement strategies to manage it. For me, my coach and my loved ones are invaluable resources who provide me with a lot of support. This year, I've really managed to focus on myself, on what I love, what excites me, what drives me, and I've cherished every moment.
In my mind: Renewing Top 15 finishes, aiming for a Top 10.
In my coach's mind: Top 10, Top 5 😉
For me, the highlights of my season were in February. I spent over 3 weeks in the United States and had an unforgettable experience. I had my best races, met extraordinary people, discovered incredible places—everything was just fantastic!
During this trip, I wanted to make the most of it, and I think that mindset worked. I was there to explore and just be 100% present in every moment. The lows came with the illness that prevented me from racing for a month and my first withdrawal after 15 kilometers due to severe back pain. During the illness, my challenge was patience. Being patient and not losing confidence in my abilities. Then, the illness created an inflammatory state that caused intense back pain and prevented me from doing classic skiing. Once again, I had to be patient, resilient, and find solutions to ease the pain.
This year, I aimed to improve my rest management. I'm really not someone who enjoys naps, sleeping in, or rest in general... And I'm pleased because I've mostly achieved my goals. I also wanted to continue progressing in my mental approach to races and training, aiming for a more relaxed mindset. Additionally, I wanted to work on comparing myself to other athletes because it's something that can handicap me and isn't very healthy or productive. Post-season, I believe I achieved my goals, and I'm very happy with how my preparation and season unfolded! 😊
High-level sports are just incredible! You experience extraordinary things! Mentally and physically, you're so "in the zone" that all emotions are amplified.
When I saw that I was in 4th place, I asked if now was the time for me to cry. Tears of happiness genuinely came to me. Watching my friends race is also amazing! They make us feel alive, stressed, and explode with happiness! Sports are truly a fantastic school, teaching self-transcendence, the joy of effort, the happiness of being outdoors, of breathing in the fresh air. It's an incredible opportunity. This winter, I learned to "de-dramatize", to "demystify" certain things, and it brought me more serenity. I was there to enjoy every moment, to give 100%, to push myself to the limit and have no regrets. It was really great!
I achieved two Top 5 finishes, including a 4th place just 3 seconds away from the podium. I placed in the top 15 in all the skating races in my discipline. I was at the forefront of the races throughout the winter, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!! It was truly extraordinary for me!
I am more than aware that without the staff and all the people around me, it would be impossible to experience all these extraordinary moments. I changed coaches two years ago, and my results have just skyrocketed! I am more than grateful for his work and the confidence he gives me every day! I am also sincerely grateful to the technicians, the people who take care of our skis throughout the winter, who get up at dawn and go to bed at dusk to ensure we have the best equipment. I thank my family, without whom it is obvious, I would never have been able to go so far in my sporting project.
I also thank all the people who believe in me and support me, sponsors and partners like Gourmiz' are essential to my performances, I am truly happy and grateful for their support!!
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