Canadian ski jumper Abi Strate had an impressive start to the new year by securing her inaugural World Cup victory on Thursday. Hailing from Calgary and aged 24, she clinched the gold medal on the large hill in Oberstdorf, Germany with a total of 268.2 points. Strate outperformed China’s Zeng Ping by 10.5 points, who secured second place with 257.7 points, followed closely by Germany’s Selina Freitag with 257.3 points.
Expressing her elation, Strate shared, “This has always been my dream. I’ve been chasing it for as long as I can remember, and to finally achieve it is incredible.” She also mentioned her fondness for the German hills, stating, “The first training jump today went smoothly, and I felt very comfortable with the inrun, which is crucial for me.”
Following a seventh-place finish in Garmisch-Partenkirchen the day before, Strate attributed her success to the guidance of her coaching team based in Slovenia. She revealed, “Today was unexpected for me. I’ve been feeling some pressure this winter after achieving early season podium finishes, but connecting with my coaches helped me relax and perform better.”
Maintaining a significant 15-point lead into the final round, Strate showcased her skills with a remarkable first attempt covering 136 meters and earning 146.1 points. Reflecting on her performance, she commented, “The first round was exceptional. Everything fell into place, and I felt comfortable in the lead position, which was a new experience for me.”
Strate, who had previously won two silver medals in big hill jumping events in Lillehammer, Norway, and Wisla, Poland, as well as an Olympic test event in Predazzo, Italy, is a member of Canada’s historic Olympic bronze-medal winning mixed team in Beijing 2022. The upcoming debut of the large hill competition at Milano-Cortina in February adds to her list of achievements in the sport.