'I was balling my eyes out' on podium: Calgary's Abigail Strate soars to first international ski-jumping victory
COURCHEVEL, France — Calgary ski jumper Abigail Strate landed on the top step of the international podium for the first time in her career on Sunday.
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One day after flying to her first-ever podium on the Summer Grand Prix circuit, the 24-year-old claimed her first victory on the large HS135 hill with 108.8 points.
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'It is a little upgrade from yesterday,' Strate, who captured bronze on Saturday, said with a laugh. 'I'm still kind of overwhelmed with everything going on. I've never heard the Canadian anthem played on the podium for myself, so I was balling my eyes out. It was really good today. I'm so happy.'
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It was Canadian ski jumping's first win in Courchevel since Alexandra Pretorius triumphed in 2012 at the Summer Grand Prix. A foursome of young Canadian leapers including Strate, and fellow Calgarians Alex Loutitt, Nicole Maurer and Natalie Eilers have been rewriting the history books.
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Strate topped a deep field on Sunday to once again have the opportunity to hear O Canada played at the medal ceremony in the French resort. The talented artist in the air, and also while doing her graphic design profession, edged Germany's Selina Freitag for the gold medal by .5 points. Japan's Nozomi Maruyama finished third with 105.5 points.
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'Standing on the podium, I was just looking for my team in the crowd. Seeing them happy is extra fulfilling because I know how hard the coaches work for all of us and how hard each of us work too,' added Strate. 'I've been close (to winning) a bunch of times, but I always seem to have found a way to mess it up. It was a great feeling today, knowing you are doing your job for the day, and I couldn't do anything better. It is amazing.'
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The world's best women's leapers competed in a new spectator-friendly competition format on Sunday. In the first round, athletes jumped in groups of five with the top two in each group advancing to the second round. Each of the top-20 competitors who headed back to the top of the hill started with zero points for the second round.
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All three Canadian women who suited up on the weekend made it to the final. Loutitt, who claimed Olympic bronze in the mixed-team event in 2022 alongside Strate, finished in eighth spot with 83 points. Maurer placed 17th at 52.2.
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'I feel like I have to like (this new format),' laughed Strate. 'There was some stress from everyone, but I like they are trying some different things to make the competitions more exciting for fans to watch.'
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Strate, who was also leading after the first round in Saturday's competition before she settled for the bronze medal, is no stranger to flying to the international podium in bunches.
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