Henrich, Tanaka jump for dream
KRASNAYA POLYANA, RUSSIA — Taylor Henrich was eight when she first tried ski jumping.
A fearless skier already by that tender age, she was looking for bigger air after following her brother over small jumps on downhill slopes. The road to some much higher slopes started when her mother signed her up for a summer camp at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.
Ten years later, Henrich and others were busy making history at the Sochi Games early Tuesday when female ski jumpers competed in the Olympics for the first time (the competition began after press time, Calgary time, Monday night).
The Calgary teenager admits to reflecting on the journey that has taken her here.
“Mostly at night. When I’m just about to go to bed, I’m like ‘Wow, I’ve actually done something pretty amazing with my life. How many people get to experience the Olympics?’ ”
Henrich was joined on the Olympic hill at the Russki Gorki Ski Jumping Centre by teammate Atsuko Tanaka of Calgary. Alexandra Pretorius was also due to compete but had to pull out at the final moment after reaggravating a knee injury.
The five-foot-five, 120-pound Henrich is thinking about matters other than history as she prepares to jump. She looks to calm her body down while focusing on what she has to do, be in the takeoff or in flight.
As she takes the chair lift up to the top, she also tries to visualize her destination.
“I imagine I’m riding a chair lift to victory,” she said. “Every time I get up there, I’m pretty excited and I just try to think positively.”
Ten years on, Henrich still gets a thrill when she takes off.
“It’s an adrenalin rush, but it’s relaxing at the same time. I love it. It’s the best feeling in the world.” Why relaxing? “You get to be really free. It’s kind of a weird concept I guess but when you fly, there’s nothing really holding you back — unless it’s wind. Basically you’re defying gravity, you’re going against gravity. So you’re fighting to stay on top in the flight.
“And it’s fun going far.”
Henrich wasn’t even 13 when she made her international debut in August 2008 on the Continental Cup circuit. Her top World Cup result is an eighth, at two separate events in December.
She has already made history of sorts. As a 16-year-old, she wore bib No. 1 during the opening round of competition at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games where she finished fifth.
Gracious with reporters who peppered her with questions about being one of the first women to break the ski jumping gender barrier at the Olympics, Henrich says she doesn’t mind the repetition.
“Every time you get asked the same question, you kind of get to improve on (your answer).”
But head coach Gregor Linsig is ready to move on: “I’m happy they get to do this. I think the now at these Olympics was the right decision. But now it’s time for them to prove themselves to the world that they belong here. I’m glad it will be over soon, so everyone can get on with normal living.”
“But yeah, they’ve been through a struggle. They’ve got their chance to do it now. So we’re happy.”
The IOC twice rejected women’s ski jumping for the 2010 Games in Vancouver. Women jumpers took their case to the Supreme Court of Canada, but failed to overturn the IOC decision in time for Vancouver.
In April 2011, the IOC added women’s ski jumping to the 2014 Games program. Men have been competing in ski jumping since 1924.
Calgary’s Charlotte Mitchell, who was part of the women’s lawsuit, is at the Games testing the hill for Olympic field.
“I’m so stoked for the ladies who get to compete and show the world what they’ve got,” the 19-year-old Mitchell told the Olympic News Service. “I was only 14 when the court case started, but it was something I was really passionate about.