Canadian ski jumper Abigail Strate launched her season in spectacular fashion, capturing the silver medal at the World Cup opener on Saturday in Lillehammer, Norway.
A Podium Becoming a Familiar Place
The 24-year-old from Calgary secured her place on the podium with two strong jumps, marking the sixth World Cup podium finish of her career. This performance matches her career-best result, a silver medal earned nearly two years ago on New Year's Day in Oberstdorf, Germany.
"Not a bad start. It feels really good," laughed Strate. "I can't really process that this is the life I'm living right now. I've struggled in this sport for so long. I always look at the top athletes with so much awe and now I'm up there regularly with them. Yes, it feels comfortable right now, but it's insane."
Mastering the Olympic-Sized Hill
Strate sent a clear message to the world's top jumpers in this crucial Olympic year. After qualifying in third place on Friday, she delivered in the main event on the large hill—the same type of hill that will make its Olympic debut at the 2026 Games in Milano/Cortina.
In tricky conditions, Strate covered distances of 129 and 121 metres, amassing a two-heat total of 259.7 points. She reflected on her mindset, stating, "My qualifying jump was the best one. I was the most relaxed and calm. In today's competition there was some stress in the air... I'm just trying to put myself in the mindset of training. That's always the goal – just focus on the jumps and get them as good as I can."
A Dream Season Continues
The celebration was well-earned. "I was a bit stressed today, but it is the best feeling in the world to finish a day and say you did a good job and see your coaches smiling and everyone celebrating," Strate shared. "It is very fulfilling because I also know the feeling of finishing a day and feeling completely disappointed."
On the podium, Strate finished behind Japan's Nozomi Maruyama, who took gold with 285.5 points. Austria's Lisa Eder claimed the bronze medal with 255.4 points.
This victory continues a dream run for the multi-talented Canadian, who is also a graphic designer and a certified beekeeper. Her success began on the summer Grand Prix circuit, where she finished on the podium in all five events she entered. That remarkable streak included two gold medals and hearing Canada's national anthem played in Courcheval, France, and at the future Olympic venue in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
