Ice dancers set for Sochi

NSWIS ice dancers Danielle O’Brien and Greg Merriman have secured their spot at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games following a fantastic performance at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany over the weekend.

The duo finished sixth overall with a total score of 127.70 points, notching a personal best 76.68 points on their free routine, but importantly finished third amongst the non-qualified nations to secure their spot on the Sochi ice.

The Sochi Games will be the pair’s first, having just missed out on selection for Vancouver after Merriman developed an infection of the sac surrounding his heart. The duo was forced to withdraw from the Olympic qualification event in 2009 that would have seen them earn a spot in Vancouver.

With their selection for Sochi O’Brien and Merriman will be only the second Australian pair to compete in the ice dancing event after Monica Macdonald and Rodney Clarke at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games.