KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia – Lydia Lassila wants her home country to get all wet.
The two-time Olympic medalist in women's aerials says it's time for Australia to get serious about developing a sport in which it has reached the podium in each of the last four Winter Games.
Atop Lassila's wish list is a water ramp that would allow hopeful aerialists to train throughout the year in a country not exactly known for its harsh winters.
"It's something we don't need, but something that we damn well should have if we want to continue winning medals in this sport," she said Saturday, less than 24 hours after capturing bronze.
Australian aerialists are often forced to spend long months overseas to train, an expense that she says hasn't allowed her country to recruit a new wave that will take over once she and her contemporaries retire.
"It's been so challenging," Lassila said. "It's a game changer. We shouldn't wait. We should do it now."
— By Will Graves — Twitter http://twitter.com/WillGravesAP
___
Associated Press reporters are filing dispatches about happenings in and around Sochi during the 2014 Winter Games. Follow AP journalists covering the Olympics on Twitter: http://apne.ws/1c3WMiu
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.