U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Team Announced

Olympic ski jumping veteran Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, Utah) will lead a team of four men and three women at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. U.S. Ski & Snowboard Thursday (Jan. 25) announced its selections for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Team that will compete at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 beginning February 9. The selections will be confirmed by the United States Olympic Committee when it formally names Team USA this Friday (January 26).

Hendrickson and Michael Glasder (Cary, Ill.) earned their spots as winners of the Olympic Trials Dec. 31. The remainder of the team qualified through World Cup results

"It's exciting to see an entire group of first time Olympians head to South Korea," said Men's Jumping Director Clint Jones. "It was great to see Mike Glasder secure his spot at the Olympic Trials. The other three athletes are young and making quick progress in the sport. Even though they are relatively inexperienced, we are hoping for big things."

"Going into the second Olympic Winter Games in history for the ladies, I am excited to see two first-time Olympians join the team alongside veteran Sarah Hendrickson," said Women's Jumping Director Alan Alborn. "Nita Englund and Abby Ringquist are both competing for their first time in the Olympics and have been working hard to secure that opportunity for many seasons." 

The opening is set for February 9. Men's ski jumping has its normal hill qualifying round a day earlier, on Thursday, February 8. The first medal event is Saturday, February 10. The women will have one jumping event on the normal hill on Monday, February 12.

TEAM FACTS

• Sarah Hendrickson is the only ski jumping athlete with Olympic experience. She jumped number one in the women's debut at Sochi in 2014.
• Hendrickson, Abby Ringquist and Will Rhoads are products of the 2002 Olympic Legacy, growing up in the shadow of the ski jumps in Park City, Utah.
• Olympic Trials winner Michael Glasder and Kevin Bickner both came out of the Norge Ski Club in the northwest suburbs of Chicago - one of America's oldest clubs dating back to the early 1900s.
• Kevin Bickner set a new U.S. distance record in 2017 soaring 244.5 meters
• The men are jumping this weekend in Zakopane, Poland with the women competing in a World Cup at their European training base of Ljubno, Slovenia.

2018 U.S. OLYMPIC SKI JUMPING TEAM

Men

• Kevin Bickner, Wauconda, Ill. (9/23/1996)
• Michael Glasder, Cary, Ill. (3/27/1989)
• Casey Larson, Barrington, Ill. (12/16/1998)
• Will Rhoads, Park City, Utah (6/08/1995)

Women

• Nita Englund, Florence, Wis. (6/10/1992)
• Sarah Hendrickson, Park City, Utah (8/01/1994) *
• Abby Ringquist, Park City, Utah (6/21/1989)

* Competed in past Olympics 

Staff
Clint Jones, Men's Jumping Director
Alan Alborn, Women's Jumping Director
Bine Norčič, Men's International Coach
Igor Cuznar, Women's International Coach

QUOTES
Clint Jones, Men's Head Coach
It's exciting to see an entire men’s group of first-time Olympians head to South Korea. It was great to see Mike Glasder secure his spot at the Olympic Trials. He has narrowly missed the Olympic team in the past, but has put in some great work over the past couple years and taken big steps forward.  The other three athletes are young and making quick progress in the sport.  Even though they are relatively inexperienced, we are hoping for big things.  Kevin Bickner started the season a little slow, but is getting back to his best form. Training has been going well and with a solid performance we know he can be right up there with the best in the world. We are also looking to continue to improve in the team event. At the end of last year, our team was seventh in the final team event in Planica and we would like to see the guys continue to build on that. The team event is a good indication of the strength of the group and direction of our program.

Alan Alborn, Women's Head Coach
Going into the second Olympic Winter Games in history for the ladies, I am excited to see two first time Olympians join the team alongside veteran Sarah Hendrickson. Sarah surprised everyone during the Olympic Trials with two of the most competitive jumps she has executed since 2013. Nita Englund and Abby Ringquist are both competing for their first time in the Olympics and have been working hard to secure that opportunity for many seasons. Although this season has not gone they way we had hoped, we are optimistic and you never know in ski jumping what can happen.

Kevin Bickner
It’s been a childhood dream of mine ever since I started skiing and now that it’s finally happening it’s surreal. I’m really excited to finally be named to the team. My goal is to do everything right and have good jumps. I want to jump 100% to my potential. I know if I do this then a good result can come from it and I hope to surprise America.

Will Rhoads
I am excited and honored to be a part of Team USA for the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics! I’m really looking forward to competing at the highest level and experiencing all that the games has to offer.

Casey Larson
For a long time making the Olympic Team was merely a goal. Before last winter, 2022 seemed like more the reality but all of a sudden a few things got figured out and I started jumping really well. I am extremely honored to be on the team and now the focus is on really enjoying the experience and getting some great results. For me, personally, I know what it took to get to this point. This winter has had its ups and downs already and now I feel like as a team we can start to focus on achieving some goals that we’ve had in our heads for awhile.

Nita Englund
I'm really happy on qualifying for the Olympic Team. It has been a lifelong goal. There was a lot of work from me, but also a lot of support from teammates, coaches, friends and family. It will take a few days for the emotions to settle, but it certainly means a lot to me.

Abby Ringquist
I am overwhelmed with excitement and I really can’t believe my dream is finally coming true. I am an Olympian! Since watching the 1994 Olympics when I was five, I knew I wanted to be an Olympian when I grew up, not knowing which sport could take me there. I’ve heard a lot of ‘no’s’ throughout my 21-year long career, from not being allowed in 2006 and 2010, to missing out on 2014 Games. I almost hung my skis up four years ago, but I put my head down and worked harder than I ever have. It brings me to tears knowing all of the hard times and hard work are paying off. I can’t wait to represent my country and I hope that I can perform my best and make my nation, my community, my family and my friends proud.