In the winter Olympics of 1924 in Chamonix, there were 248 athletes competing for gold. 11 of which were females, and all were in figure skating. Fast-forward to modern times, the winter Olympics in 2018 had 43 percent female athletes.
Speaking of the winter Olympics, U.S. Ski and Snowboard announced that HomeLight, a real estate technology platform, is a title sponsor of the HomeLight Foundation Series. This foundation works as a catalyst to launch the careers of top athletes within winter sports. We hope you get inspired watching these athletes hit the halfpipe and catch big air.
In honor of female athletes defying the gender gap in all winter sports categories in the Olympic Games, we have decided to share with you some fearless and inspiring women in skiing and snowboarding.
Mikaela Shiffrin
Mikaela Shiffrin is an Olympic Gold Medalist, and World Cup alpine skier. As part of U.S. Olympic Team, Shiffrin is the most decorated American athlete in Alpine World Ski Championship history. She became the youngest woman in U.S. history to win a World Championship and the youngest athlete (male or female) to win and Olympic slalom gold medal in the 2014 Sochi games. In fact, Shiffrin is the most winningest slalom skier of all time.
Lindsey Vonn
Considered the most successful ski racer in the world, Vonn has proven her patience, hard work, and efforts during recovery from injuries and crashes to excel her to becoming a gold medalist. Her successful career as a four-time Olympian has brought her three Olympic medals as she inspires athletes everywhere to persevere and reach their goals.
Chloe Kim
At the mere age of 17 years old, Kim became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal in the women’s halfpipe in 2018. Recovering from a broken ankle, Kim assures fans that she will be ready to defend her title in the 2022 Beijing competition.
Kelly Clark
Retired snowboarder Kelly Clark proves to inspire female athletes to this day. Over her career she won three Olympic medals, seven Winter X Games titles, and a record-breaking eight U.S. Open titles. She continues her legacy today by mentoring the future of female snowboarding (including Chloe Kim!).
Breezy Johnson
Like her name implies, Johnson is fast, “like the wind” and part of the 2022 Olympic Team as a returning athlete. Successfully recovered from a number of injuries, including a torn ACL in 2018, Johnson is now considered one of the most promising downhill skiers since Lindsay Vonn. She has won seven World Cups, and she is currently ranked second overall in World Cup downhill standings.
We hope you feel inspired by the leaps and bounds females have made as athletes in the winter Olympics, and that these ladies helped motivate you to hit the slopes and follow your dreams.