Ski Jumping
Former child prodigy Hendrickson writes history
World champion ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson talks historic firsts, mind power and challenges ahead.
Sarah Hendrickson
© Mirja Geh/Red Bull Content Pool
The women’s ski jumping season will get under way in Lillehammer, Norway this Friday. We caught up with the sport’s 20-year-old record-setter Sarah Hendrickson, who’s back healthy and strong after a long rehab from multiple knee surgeries – the latest one in March of 2014.
Are you set for the season to start? I am very ready for the season. I love ski jumping and really miss competing and feeling that pressure. It’s been a long 18 months since my last 'real' competition and I just want to feel that passion for my sport again.
It’s been a long journey back for you. What's kept you at it? My rehab was really hard and draining. For months I was in the gym about six hours a day, sometimes more. I am thankful for the support team I had behind me that kept me motivated. I had the dream of competing in Sochi. That motivated me to get me through the hard days.
Sarah Hendrickson training in Park City
© Nate Christenson/Red Bull Content Pool
How did it feel to write history by being the first ever woman to ski jump at the Olympics? It was a huge honour to wear bib number one. I definitely don’t realise how much it means now, but I’m sure later I will appreciate it more. Yes, my goal was to win gold but with my injury this was the next big honour.
What is your main challenge currently? Right now I am struggling with my mental comeback. Since I hurt my knee from over-jumping too far and landing in the flat, I have been having trouble fully committing. The point of ski jumping is to jump far and that’s what I will need to do this winter to win, but I find myself scared to trust my knee and myself. I am slowly getting better and others with the same injury say time is the only way to fix that.
Sarah Hendrickson
© Nate Christenson/Red Bull Content Pool
You were a child prodigy – the first-ever World Cup title winner and World Champion by the tender age of only 19. What’s there for you to still win? I showed passion for ski jumping at an early age. Being world champion in 2013 is my biggest accomplishment so far. I remember how intense the pressure was that day and for me to push that aside and come out on top really showed how strong I was.
But I still have so many more goals I want to accomplish, including gold in 2018. I am already dreaming about that and hope to make the team and execute my best. I also want to go ski flying, which many girls have not done. This year, I wish to defend my World Champ title and find my love for ski jumping again.
What do you imagine doing after your career? I have met so many amazing people through my sport. I think athletes are special and I would love to work with them later, so I have thought about sports psychology but it’s hard to say right now. I actually love school and learning but my life now is amazing: I travel and train for a job and I wouldn’t give that up for anything. I have time to go to school after I finish my active sports career. I have learned that when you have passion and dedication for something the results come naturally, so I’m looking forward to whatever life will bring.
Watch Sarah fly in the first Ski Jumping World Cup event in Lillehammer this weekend!
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