Four Calgarians nominated to compete in ski jumping at Beijing 2022

CALGARY (January 21, 2022) – Ski Jumping Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have nominated four athletes to compete in ski jumping at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

The athletes and coaches nominated are:

Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (Calgary, Alta.)
Alexandria Loutitt (Calgary, Alta.)
Matthew Soukup (Calgary, Alta.)
Abigail Strate (Calgary, Alta.)

Nicole Maurer (Calgary, Alta.) – Non-traveling alternate

Janko Zwitter (Feistritz/Gai, Austria ) – Head Coach
Igor Cuznar (Kranj, Slovenia) – Coach

The athletes qualified based on their accumulated World Cup and Continental Cup points over the past two seasons.

Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes will make his fourth trip to the Olympic Winter Games, matching a Canadian Olympic ski jumping record.

“I’m so excited for my teammates and the inaugural mixed team event, which will really show the world how far the team has come despite the challenges we have faced,” said Boyd-Clowes. “Over the past two qualifying seasons we have been really successful in qualifying all four spots in an extremely high calibre field. Since my first Olympics, I have never stopped wanting to improve and I have continued to get better over time by adapting both from a technical and knowledge perspective.”

Pandemic-related challenges impacted the team and forced them to move their training base to Slovenia. Team Canada’s ski jumpers, however, have continually shown resiliency and built momentum throughout the season as they progressed through the rankings.  

Alexandria Loutitt, the youngest member of the team at 18 years old, jumped to a career-high 14th place finish, while Abigail Strate jumped to a career-high 13th-place finish, both on the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup circuit, showing the young athletes what could be possible for them in the sport.

Matthew Soukup, who will make his Olympic debut with Loutitt and Strate, has been gaining valuable experience on the Continental Cup circuit, aiming to peak in Beijing.

“Going to the Olympics to represent Canada has been my dream,” said Loutitt. “I appreciate every person who believed wholeheartedly that the tiny girl who said she was going to be an Olympic ski jumper would reach her dream.”

Team Canada’s best result in Olympic ski jumping was recorded at Calgary 1988 where Horst Bulau placed seventh in the men’s individual large hill. Also at those Games, Steve Collins posted Canada’s best result in the men’s individual normal hill, 13th. In the Olympic debut of women’s ski jumping at Sochi 2014, Atsuko Tanaka placed 12th.

“This team has excelled with determination, resilience and grit. We are ready and excited for the Beijing Olympics and the ski jumping in Zhangjiakou,” said Todd Stretch, Team Leader and President of Ski Jumping Canada.

Ski Jumping will take place February 5 to February 12 (Days 1 to 8) at the Zhangjiakou Ski Jumping Centre.

“Congratulations to the two women and two men who will be soaring through the air wearing the maple leaf in Beijing,” said Catriona Le May Doan, Team Canada’s Beijing 2022 Chef de Mission. “Soon-to-be four-time Olympian, Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes, will lead the rest of the team to their first Olympic experience. They will be participating in the inaugural mixed team event as Beijing will be the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history. These athletes will be making history in 2022!”

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Beijing 2022 roster can be found here and the qualification tracker can be found here.