Skier Jared Schmidt stoked for first trip to Olympic Games

JARED SCHMIDT
Sport: Freestyle Skiing
Event: Men’s Ski Cross
Age: 24
Hometown: Dunrobin
Residence: Calgary
Local Club: Mont-Tremblant
First Olympics
Instagram: @jschmidty18

By Ethan Diamandas

For skier Jared Schmidt, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy were the more realistic goal — until one event changed his trajectory.

Back in February 2021, Schmidt raced in the final heat of the ski cross World Cup event in Bakuriani, Georgia. He trailed for most of the race, but hung close to the pack, and when veteran Canadian teammate Brady Leman fell, Schmidt cruised to a medal.

With his goggles off at the bottom of the hill, Schmidt flashed a big smile, raised his hands, and shouted an exhausted “Woo!” The third-place finish — his first World Cup medal — splashed some reality into the idea of him reaching the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

“My first top-16, first podium, I am super stoked right now,” Schmidt said after the race.

Since his debut at the Nor-Am Cup in 2017, the 24-year-old Ottawa native has gradually worked his way to the top. The sport of ski cross is full of talent, and Schmidt, a relative newcomer, has sprinkled in some performances on the podium since that decisive race in Bakuriani.

On Dec. 14, 2021, Schmidt placed third in the World Cup event in Switzerland, then followed that up with a silver medal at the Nor-Am Cup race in Nakiska, Alta., on Jan. 19. It seemed inevitable Canada would call his name come Olympic selection time.

On Jan. 21, Schmidt was named as one of four male ski cross athletes to represent Canada in Beijing.

“I am very excited to be named to the 2022 Beijing Olympic team,” Schmidt told the Sports Pages in an email after his selection. “Even though most of the athletes had a good idea who was going, it feels good to see it officially be announced.”

If the moment wasn’t special enough, Jared’s sister, Hannah, was also named to the ski cross team on the women’s side.

“Both Hannah and I have worked extremely hard over these past few years and it’s great to see it paying off with great results, qualifying us for the Olympics,” Jared said.

Read more: Schmidt siblings vault into Olympic consideration with breakout ski cross seasons

Read more: Ski cross the new family passion for top Nor-Am circuit siblings

Despite some stiff competition from nations like Switzerland and France, Canada enters the 2022 Games with a great chance to medal. Leman won a gold medal in the men’s event in Pyeongchang, and Schmidt’s teammate, Kevin Drury, finished fourth.

Schmidt won’t come into Beijing as a favourite to medal, but if his previous events have told us anything, he thrives as the underdog, and he’s ready for the challenge.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE:

Jared Schmidt (Freestyle Skiing)

Jared Schmidt (Freestyle Skiing)