Alexandria Loutitt is having the best 18th birthday ever.
Not only has the aspiring GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n ski jumper circumnavigated the globe over the last few weeks, she also won an Olympic medal for Canada while doing it.
SA国际影视传媒淢y body doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what time zone itSA国际影视传媒檚 in,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been through every time zone in the past however many days.SA国际影视传媒�
The Calgary-based jumper said her medal-winning jump felt different than any before it. She was relaxed, because her teamSA国际影视传媒檚 results to that point meant they could finish no worse than sixth place.
SA国际影视传媒淪o I was smiling, I felt good and I was pretty relaxed. I just went into it looking like it was no different than any other competition. Although thereSA国际影视传媒檚 Olympic rings everywhere, it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 change my competitors SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檙e the same as when ISA国际影视传媒檓 competing in the World Cup.SA国际影视传媒�
Loutitt won the bronze medal in Beijing along with teammates Matthew Soukup, Abigail Strate and Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes for Team Canada on Feb. 7. Loutitt soared 90 metres to score 101.4 points.
This is the first time Canada has ever won a medal in ski jumping. For Loutitt, the win was as big as a surprise as it was for everyone else.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was the second round, we were standing at the bottom, and were like SA国际影视传媒極h my God, we moved up a spot. We could actually medal! This is actually happeningSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� and every time someone jumped and weSA国际影视传媒檇 move up one and we couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 believe it,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 even explain the emotions. We were so happy and excited. Our goal was eighth to sixth. So it was a pretty big deal.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd ISA国际影视传媒檓 getting to do it with my friends, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 even better than an individual cup in a way.SA国际影视传媒�
An SA国际影视传媒榰nexplainableSA国际影视传媒� feeling
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been a long way to the top. Loutitt said she and her teammates put in four to five hours of training a day, for six-to-seven days a week during the off-season.
She joked that sheSA国际影视传媒檚 so used to her fitness routine that when she has to remind herself of her lifestyle when she describes it to others.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been like that for a couple of years, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing abnormal for us,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut when you say it to a person who isnSA国际影视传媒檛 training, they canSA国际影视传媒檛 really understand how easy it is for us. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of just our life now.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not just the sport itself, ski jumping is this unexplainable feeling SA国际影视传媒� you feel yourself creating lift and you get this shot of adrenaline. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 such an exciting feeling and you feel powerful.SA国际影视传媒�
Loutitt credited her team, parents, friends and support network for helping her get to where she is.
Part of what keeps her in the sport, she said, was the close-knit community in the Canadian ski jumping circuit.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think community is a really important part of sport,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 know so many incredible women SA国际影视传媒� and men too, but I know the women better just because our circuits are aligned SA国际影视传媒� but so many incredible and bad-ass women. Being part of this insane community of girls who are working their butts off to show the world how great they are and that women are capable of being successful athletes.SA国际影视传媒�
In spite of soaring through the heavens, Loutitt is keeping her feet firmly on the ground. She said she wants to help youth in the North and across Canada realize their dreams like she did.
SA国际影视传媒楬ow can I make this work?SA国际影视传媒�
Having a strong support team who can help pick you up when youSA国际影视传媒檙e feeling down and give you the time to focus on your passion is key, she said.
She also emphasized the importance of being willing to learn new things, accept criticism and be able to listen to coaches or other mentors.
Other nuggets of advice she had include being prepared to adapt, including being prepared move to where you need to be to reach your goals. And prioritize those goals.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou need to be able to look at a situation and say SA国际影视传媒楬ow can I make this work?SA国际影视传媒�, SA国际影视传媒楬ow can I make myself the best I can be?SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� and you need to develop these skills. No one is going to be perfect when they first start trying to learn and adapt, theySA国际影视传媒檙e definitely something you get better at over time.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou need to find a support system SA国际影视传媒� it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have to be family, it can be friends, it can be coaches, it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter who. But as long as you have a few people who you can turn to when you are struggling SA国际影视传媒� because sports are hard, theySA国际影视传媒檙e a roller-coaster with ups and downs and the big picture moves along with it. To have someone who is able to support you through that is very important for mental health and well-being.
SA国际影视传媒淓ven if itSA国际影视传媒檚 the smallest amount, anything makes a difference. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 many small actions that have resonated with me.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒榃ant to thank everybodySA国际影视传媒�
Loutitt first tried out ski jump when she was 9 and was instantly hooked. Since then, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 clocked enough air-time that when she entered international competition at age 15, she hit the ground like a rocket, having stood on the highest of podiums only a few years later.
ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no rest for champions, however. After a brief stopover in Calgary to watch the Superbowl with her mother, Loutitt was back on the plane to Austria to compete in the World Championships SA国际影视传媒� all by herself this time.
While the Olympics are where the spotlight is, Loutitt said this would be the real competition.
SA国际影视传媒淔or me, the World Junior Championships is the event that ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to fight for the gold,SA国际影视传媒� she explained. SA国际影视传媒淪o ISA国际影视传媒檝e been focusing on that and my ideas have shifted from being at the Olympics on to World Champs. ISA国际影视传媒檓 pretty confident I can do well there.SA国际影视传媒�
