Abby Winterberger: The Youngest Freestyle Skier at the Olympics

To comprehend how Abby Winterberger, at just 15, became the youngest member of Team USA at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, it’s essential to understand her innate fearless nature. A story from her childhood perfectly encapsulates this trait.

Her father, Jim Winterberger, reminisces about a family vacation when Abby was very young. The family stopped at a water park, where Abby and her father climbed a massive waterslide with a steep funnel meant for rafts. Despite her enthusiasm, Abby was deemed too short by the attendant to go on the ride. Her father’s concern was that she would be upset, yet Abby responded by diving headfirst into the slide without a raft, whizzing past adults and leaving the attendant astounded.

This daring attitude would later serve her well as she ventured into the world of competitive freestyle skiing. As she gears up to compete in the Italian Alps this month, though still too young to drive in her home state of California, Abby reflects on the surreal experience of joining the ranks of skiers she once admired on TV. “It hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” she confessed to NBC News.

Years earlier, Maggie Voisin, who qualified for the 2014 Sochi Olympics at 15, set a precedent for young skiers like Winterberger, who is now the youngest American competing in any sport at Milan Cortina.

Abby’s coach, Cooper Davidson of OVFree, a club near Lake Tahoe, has been with her since she was seven. Both have approached her Olympic debut with a laid-back mindset, planning to view it as a learning experience while soaking in the atmosphere. This will be Abby’s first experience of Italy and skiing on its slopes.

Her prior performances hint at a promising Olympic run, potentially making her the top American contender. However, clinching a medal may demand pushing the difficulty envelope, as her competitors often incorporate greater amplitude and rotations. Davidson believes in Abby’s vast potential, saying, “There’s no telling what she’s going to do.”

Growing up in Truckee, California, Abby was skiing by the age of two, striving to match her older brother Mack. Her dedication and unique discipline were evident early on, branching into competitive gymnastics at five. However, her focus shifted to skiing when the pandemic restricted access to gymnastics, leading her to practice jumps in her backyard.

Inspired by the 2022 Winter Olympics, Abby threw herself into skiing, finding new confidence through backflip mastery over moguls. Watching local skiers who qualified for the Olympics transformed her perspective: “If they can do it, why can’t I?”

This season, Abby’s performances placed her 18th in the overall World Cup rankings and seventh in the freeski halfpipe division. Despite not being on the official U.S. team, her exceptional results earned her a spot in the Olympics.

Skogen Sprang, the director for the U.S. freeski team, highlighted Abby’s remarkable trajectory: “It’s very exciting to have such young talent qualify for the Olympic Games, promising a bright future for U.S. skiing.”

Though Abby’s ascent has been rapid, she remains grounded, balancing the rigors of competitive skiing with her life in Truckee, with her academic pursuits entirely conducted online. Abby’s determination sets her apart, pursuing her life on her terms: “This is the life I want to be living,” she declares.

For Abby Winterberger, chasing Olympic dreams means nothing less than full commitment and embracing uncertainties head-on, a mindset that her father lauds: “Full send, every time.”

Andrew Greif is a sports reporter for NBC News Digital.