Canada’s Abigail Strate Blown into 11th in Big Hill Ski Jumping at Olympic Games
PREDAZZO, Italy — Canadian ski jumper Abigail Strate’s bid for a second Olympic medal was undone by unpredictable wind conditions, leaving the Calgary athlete in 11th place in the women’s large hill final at the 2026 Winter Games.
The 24-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, posted a combined score of 243.6 points from jumps of 117 and 131.5 metres. The result matched her 11th-place finish from the normal hill event earlier in the Games but fell short of her medal ambitions after a promising start in the trial round.
“Third in the trial round boosted my confidence. I felt good going into the competition round, but I had no chance with the wind conditions,” said Strate, who was part of Canada’s bronze-medal winning ski jumpers at the 2022 Games. “I got really bad luck. I got in the air and there was no opportunity to fly far. I’m a little disappointed that was taken away from me.”
Strate’s first jump left her well down the standings in 26th position, effectively ending her podium hopes. However, she rebounded in the second round with a strong effort under improved conditions, climbing 15 spots to finish just outside the top 10.
“I felt lighter than I have all Olympics. I wanted to end on a good note and prove to myself that I could do it — and I did,” said an emotional Strate. “I finished with a smile, looked at my family, and I’m really proud to end like that.”
Olympic ski jumping rankings are determined by combining distance and judges’ style scores, with wind compensation factors also influencing final results.
The competition was dominated by Norway, led by Anna Odine Strøm, who secured her second gold medal of the Games with 284.9 points. Teammate Eirin Maria Kvandal earned silver with 282.7, while Slovenia’s Nika Prevc took bronze at 271.5.
For Strate, the result capped a breakthrough season that had raised expectations heading into Italy. She reached the World Cup podium five times during the 2025–26 campaign, including four podium finishes on the large hill — the same discipline making its Olympic debut for women at these Games.
The addition of the women’s large hill marked a milestone in the sport’s evolution and was not lost on Strate, who reflected on how far women’s ski jumping has progressed in a relatively short time.
“This is a really special moment for all of us,” added Strate. “The women had to fight just to be in the Olympics in 2014, and now we have two events. I’m friends with a lot of these girls – we’ve grown up together. If you open your eyes and pay attention, you see everyone rise and fall, and you realize we’re all human and supportive of each other.”
Maurer Caps Strong Olympic Debut with Second Top-20 Finish
Fellow Calgarian Nicole Maurer also delivered a solid performance, finishing 20th with 222.6 points after jumps of 121.5 and 126 metres.
The 26-year-old’s result marked her second consecutive top-20 finish of the Games, representing a successful Olympic debut and reinforcing Canada’s depth in the discipline.
“My main goal today was to have fun,” said Maurer. “I just wanted to enjoy it and not focus on the result. I was happy to showcase good jumps to the whole world.”
Maurer’s steady showing highlights the progress of Canada’s women’s ski jumping program, which has gained international credibility over the past decade.
Both athletes compete under the national program overseen by Ski Jumping Canada, the federation responsible for developing elite talent and managing international competition.
While Canada did not add to its ski jumping medal count in Predazzo, Strate’s consistency and Maurer’s emergence point to continued competitiveness on the world stage.
For Strate in particular, the Games represent both a missed opportunity and confirmation she belongs among the sport’s elite — even when conditions fail to cooperate.
Her closing jump, and the smile that followed, suggested unfinished business still lies ahead.