I’m heartbroken to say that I have not been chosen to go to the 2022 Olympics.
I’m going to be fully transparent here: I’m skiing and competing the best I ever have. I am currently ranked 5th overall on the World Cup Tour (2nd American), and I have 2 bronze medals from this year’s Olympic qualifiers. Despite these results, I did not meet objective criteria for the Games, therefore my hope remained with the fourth and final spot which was a discretionary spot. Yet, despite my results again, the committee selected by the US Ski Team to oversee discretionary cases decided that they were not good enough.
It’s been hard to receive dozens of messages over the past 2 weeks congratulating me on making the Olympics. I didn’t know how to respond as I hadn’t yet qualified, and I had faith that I would be able to report official good news this week, but alas.
I’m grateful to the US Ski Team for funding me with the opportunities to chase my dreams and achieve what I have so far, but I’m simultaneously crushed by their decision. This wound will take time to heal. Part of me still can’t believe this is happening, and I’m doing everything I can to make sure no athlete is made to feel this way again. However, anyone who knows me knows that I will be cheering on my teammates who made the team, as well as all of Team USA.
And make no mistake, I’m not going anywhere. This only fuels my hunger for more at the World Cups following the Games, and I will never stop believing in myself. I’m proud to say I fought my hardest, I performed, and I will continue to do so. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me relentlessly throughout this painstaking process. I guess I will just always wonder what I could have shown the world in China…
