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Hendrickson, Ailing Star in Ski Jump, Is Named to U.S. Team
Sarah Hendrickson, the reigning world champion in the women’s ski jump, was named to the United States Olympic team Wednesday even though she has not competed this season.
Hendrickson injured her knee in August and resumed jumping only recently, raising questions about how well she will compete when women’s ski jumping debuts at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 11.
Hendrickson, 19, said her knee had responded well since she started jumping again, but she has been taking a limited number of jumps. “It’s sore a couple of days, but it’s nothing that will hold me back,” she said at a news conference in Park City, Utah, in which the men’s and women’s ski jump teams were announced.
Before her injury, Hendrickson was considered one of the favorites to win a medal in Sochi along with her main rival, Sara Takanashi of Japan. Takanashi, 17, has gone on to win nearly every World Cup event this season and is considered the leading candidate for the gold medal.
“Sara’s jumping at a really, really high level now,” Hendrickson said.
To compete with Takanashi, Hendrickson added, “I would definitely have to show up on my best day.”
Hendrickson will be joined by Jessica Jerome, who earned her berth at the United States Olympic trials in December, and Lindsey Van, who in 2009 won the first women’s world championship. Van was at the center of the struggle to have women’s ski jumping added to the Olympics.
“Honestly, I don’t really have words for it,” Van said about making the team and her long fight to win recognition for the sport. “I’m completely overwhelmed.”
Nick Alexander, Nick Fairall, Peter Frenette and Anders Johnson were named to the men’s team.
Alan Alborn, one of the coaches of the women’s team, said the United States team would learn Thursday if it could add a fourth ski jumper. The women’s ski jump will include only 30 jumpers, and the allocation of a fourth spot depends on how many other jumpers from other nations qualify.
Either way, Hendrickson is sure to be in the spotlight, given her past success and her arduous road to recovery.
“When I crashed back in August, I laid at the bottom of the hill and thought it was all over,” she said. “I can’t believe I’m sitting here accomplishing the hardest thing I’ve ever set out to do. It’s a huge relief, and I’m just ecstatic.”
Source: the New York Times
Hendrickson injured her knee in August and resumed jumping only recently, raising questions about how well she will compete when women’s ski jumping debuts at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 11.
Hendrickson, 19, said her knee had responded well since she started jumping again, but she has been taking a limited number of jumps. “It’s sore a couple of days, but it’s nothing that will hold me back,” she said at a news conference in Park City, Utah, in which the men’s and women’s ski jump teams were announced.
Before her injury, Hendrickson was considered one of the favorites to win a medal in Sochi along with her main rival, Sara Takanashi of Japan. Takanashi, 17, has gone on to win nearly every World Cup event this season and is considered the leading candidate for the gold medal.
“Sara’s jumping at a really, really high level now,” Hendrickson said.
To compete with Takanashi, Hendrickson added, “I would definitely have to show up on my best day.”
Hendrickson will be joined by Jessica Jerome, who earned her berth at the United States Olympic trials in December, and Lindsey Van, who in 2009 won the first women’s world championship. Van was at the center of the struggle to have women’s ski jumping added to the Olympics.
“Honestly, I don’t really have words for it,” Van said about making the team and her long fight to win recognition for the sport. “I’m completely overwhelmed.”
Nick Alexander, Nick Fairall, Peter Frenette and Anders Johnson were named to the men’s team.
Alan Alborn, one of the coaches of the women’s team, said the United States team would learn Thursday if it could add a fourth ski jumper. The women’s ski jump will include only 30 jumpers, and the allocation of a fourth spot depends on how many other jumpers from other nations qualify.
Either way, Hendrickson is sure to be in the spotlight, given her past success and her arduous road to recovery.
“When I crashed back in August, I laid at the bottom of the hill and thought it was all over,” she said. “I can’t believe I’m sitting here accomplishing the hardest thing I’ve ever set out to do. It’s a huge relief, and I’m just ecstatic.”
Source: the New York Times
