The Italo-Canadian Thomas Grandi, who retired at the end of the 2006/07 season to spend more time with his family and daughter Asia, who was born at the start of 2007, will make his comeback on the slopes this season with the objective of competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

"The chance to compete in my home Olympics was an overwhelming force, an opportunity like this will not come around again and I cannot let it slip," said the 35-year-old.

Even Thomas' wife, the cross country runner Sara Renner, has started training again with the same objective in mind: competing at Vancouver 2010.

Last season Grandi was involved in skiing as president of the 'Alberta Alpine' (his local region) and competed in some minor FIS races. Currently he is 33rd in the GS standings and 28th in the SL standings and for the opening race of the season in Soelden he will have to conquer his place in the team after an internal selection.

Grandi was back on skis in July and is being followed by coach Helmut Spiegel. He trained on his own throughout the summer and autumn in order to stay close to his family.

Winner of two World Cup races, both in GS, Grandi also managed a further seven podium finishes but he is still missing an Olympic medal. Something which he hopes to rectify in Vancouver.

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