WISLA, Poland — Canada’s Abigail Strate is proving herself one of the most consistent performers on the international ski jumping circuit, capturing her third consecutive podium finish at the FIS Summer Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old from Calgary soared to a bronze medal in the women’s large hill competition on Saturday in Wisla, Poland, continuing a strong run that has seen her on the podium in each of her last three events.
“I was feeling a little nervous up there on the first jump. I was just trying to focus on the things my coaches told me to do,” Strate said after the event. “I actually wasn’t very satisfied with either of the jumps today. I was a little messy on the takeoffs, but they still worked out and got me on the podium so I can’t complain.”
Building Momentum on the World Stage
Strate finished with 231.4 points across her two jumps, trailing Slovenia’s Nika Prevc, who took gold with 247.9 points, and Japan’s Nozomi Maruyama, who claimed silver at 240.5.
Calgary teammate Nicole Maurer was the only other Canadian competitor in the field, finishing 19th with 156.3 points.
The result adds to Strate’s growing list of accomplishments in a breakthrough summer season. Just a week earlier, she claimed her first career summer Grand Prix medal with a bronze in France, then followed it with her first-ever international victory the very next day.
“I’m definitely flying with greater confidence. I knew I was training really well. My jumping has been progressing and is more consistent, so I think my whole jump is more confident than it’s ever been,” Strate said. “Each one of these successes builds on that. I’m loving ski jumping, and ski jumping is loving me right now, so the confidence just grows with each jump I take that works out. I am looking to keep it going.”
Eyes on Olympic Goals
A graphic designer when she is not competing, Strate is balancing her career off the hill with a renewed approach to training as she prepares for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
“I decided this year I’m leaving nothing out. I’m putting everything I have into this season. Subconsciously I think I always held myself back a bit, but I’m looking to crack into my full potential this year and leave nothing out there,” said Strate, who was part of Canada’s historic mixed-team bronze medal at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. “I’m taking that approach every day. I’m happy with the result and looking to improve the quality of the jumps again tomorrow.”
This marks the second time in Strate’s career that she has strung together three podium finishes in a row. She previously accomplished the feat between late 2023 and early 2024, when she closed out the year with a bronze and silver before adding another bronze to start the new season.
Aside from her recent success, Strate had only one other international podium, a bronze in Hinterzarten, Germany, in January 2023. Notably, three of her four career winter medals have come on large hills.
“It’s weird because I actually jump better on a 90 metre hill. I just haven’t trained as much on the large hills. Flying is where I usually make my mistakes, and when you jump on a large hill you obviously fly longer. But, when I’m jumping well it works on both,” she explained. “Jumping well is about confidence, and when I’m confident, I won’t hold myself back and am willing to push myself which you have to do in a sport like this.”
Expanding the Sport
While ski jumping is traditionally a winter pursuit, the Summer Grand Prix circuit provides year-round opportunities for elite athletes to hone their craft. The events are contested on porcelain in-runs and slopes covered with water-soaked plastic, simulating winter conditions.
Summer competitions began for men in 1994 and were added for women in 2012, forming a critical part of development and season-long training schedules.
Strate will take flight again on Sunday in Wisla, once more off the HS134 large hill, as she looks to continue her podium streak.
