Canadian ski jumper Abi Strate achieved her first-ever World Cup victory by clinching gold on the large hill in Oberstdorf, Germany. The 24-year-old athlete from Calgary scored 268.2 points, surpassing China’s Zeng Ping by 10.5 points, who secured second place with 257.7 points, followed by Germany’s Selina Freitag with 257.3 points.
Expressing her elation, Strate shared, “This has been my lifelong dream. I always pursued it, not knowing if it would come true. But today, I made it happen.” Strate, who had previously placed second in Oberstdorf two years ago, attributed her success to her comfort on the German hills. She emphasized the importance of the inrun and how it helped her find her optimal position.
Following a seventh-place finish in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Strate acknowledged her coaching team based in Slovenia for guiding her to her eighth World Cup podium and third of the season. She admitted to feeling some pressure during the winter season but credited her coaches for helping her relax and focus on her jumps.
In the final round, Strate maintained a significant 15-point lead, showcasing an impressive jump covering 136 meters and earning 146.1 points on her first attempt. Reflecting on her performance, she described the first round as exceptional, where everything fell into place perfectly. Strate appreciated the support from her team and the relaxed mindset they helped her achieve.
Prior to her recent victory, Strate had secured two silver medals in big hill jumping events in Lillehammer, Norway, and Wisla, Poland, as well as at an Olympic test event in Predazzo, Italy. She was also part of Canada’s historic bronze-medal-winning team at the Beijing Olympics in 2022. The upcoming large hill competition at the Milano-Cortina Olympics in February holds significance for Strate’s future endeavors in ski jumping.