During her career, the Australian Freestyle Skiing aerialist has participated in three Olympic Winter Games and four World Championships. At the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, she won her first Olympic medal, a gold, in aerials. In total, 31 year-old Lassila has 32 World Cup podiums, including 11 victories in her 64 World Cup starts. FIS Newsflash sat down with Lassila to talk about her role on the Athlete’s Commission. 

What was your motivation to join the Athlete’s Commission?

I really think the athlete's voice is crucial because we are the reason our sports are watched and admired all over the world. I felt like I could represent the athletes' voice well which is why I wanted to be involved with the FIS Athletes Commission. 

What do you foresee being your main areas of focus during the next two years?

In Freestyle aerials we have a new competition format since Vancouver so it will be important to see how this format works in Sochi and revise or refine it. 

Is there any message you would like to pass on to your fellow athletes as their representative within FIS?

As an athlete representative I am in a way the athletes' voice. If athletes have concerns or ideas, I urge them to please pass them on to me so that we can keep improving our disciplines. 

Words you live by?

Today is a good day because I will make it a good day!

How are you preparing for your life after sport?

I've been taking steps over the years to prepare myself for life after sport. Six years ago I injured my knee badly in the semi-final of the Torino Olympics. During my year off skis, I developed my company Body Ice which specialises in ice packs for injuries that strap into place and are designed for specific joints. The concept was born out of my own frustration in not being able to ice my injured knee effectively after surgery. I wanted to create a product that anyone could use post-surgery and throughout their recovery and rehabilitation that would stay in place, be cold enough and compress the injured area. www.bodyice.com.au

As well as running my business, I have a keen interest in the media, public speaking and other business ventures. I am also a mom to son Kai, which keeps me very busy so I am sure I'll have plenty to do when I do retire!

What other FIS discipline outside of your sport would you enjoy competing in and why?

I think I would really enjoy snowboard slopestyle. It looks like a lot of fun...like a big play ground and it would never be boring.