Kelly Sildaru: The Estonian Freestyle Skiing Star’s Olympic Journey
Estonia’s freestyle skiing sensation, Kelly Sildaru, is captivating audiences at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as she competes in the halfpipe event. Sildaru first burst onto the scene at the young age of 13, claiming gold at the 2016 X Games in Aspen, Colorado. She proudly represented Estonia as the nation’s sole medalist at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, securing a bronze in the slopestyle competition. This year, however, Sildaru has strategically focused her energy solely on the halfpipe in Livigno, Italy, the stunning alpine setting for freestyle skiing.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing the Present
In a recent interview with ERR’s Sport portal, Sildaru shared insights into her journey, including celebrating her 24th birthday during the Games, her resilience in overcoming injury, and her thoughts on fellow freestyle star Eileen Gu. She also discussed her recent knee surgery in late 2024 and the challenges of returning to peak performance.
Training in Switzerland and Olympic Preparation
“I think the training camp went very well,” Sildaru explained. “Of course, things could always go better. There were still some things or tricks I wanted to do but didn’t get to. But the main focus was really on being at altitude to gain more amplitude, because that plays a very big role in the halfpipe. And I did gain that. It definitely gave me a lot of confidence. I think the camp was certainly worthwhile.”
Prior to qualification, athletes had three opportunities to train in the Olympic halfpipe. Sildaru noted the varying conditions. “The training conditions here have been a bit of a mixture. It snowed the first two days, then on the first day there was even a particularly strong blizzard, with wind at the beginning. But we still managed to do some things. Today was definitely the best training day as the weather conditions were better. The sun was shining, and the pipe was very fast compared with the previous days.”
The Mental Game and the Road to Recovery
Sildaru acknowledged the lingering impact of past injuries. “It does sit in the back of my mind a little. I don’t think about it daily while skiing, but to some extent it has definitely left its mark. Maybe it’s harder to push myself, but that’s normal. It all takes time to come back.” She emphasized the difficulty of rebuilding confidence after setbacks. “Right now, inevitably, there has been very little time between my first competition and the Olympics. And it almost feels like, with the injuries, especially when you have two like that in a row, you don’t even start from zero, but slightly below that.”
Finding Joy Amidst the Pressure
Despite the pressure, Sildaru is striving to enjoy the experience. “I have been trying to enjoy it, but inevitably the Olympic pressure is there. It is a bigger and more important competition than World Cup stages. I do try to enjoy it, but naturally I also have expectations or a run in my head that I’ve thought about for a long time and would like to do at the Olympics.”
The Support of Competitors
Sildaru expressed gratitude for the support she’s received from her fellow competitors. “Quite a lot, I’d say. Many come to say kind words, that it’s great I’m doing things again and nice to see me riding again. They also understand that right now I’m pushing myself.”
Focusing on Halfpipe
Sildaru’s decision to focus solely on halfpipe is proving beneficial. “So far I really like focusing only on halfpipe and I think it was a very good decision. I’ve always been a bit jealous of others at competitions — for example, those who only do slopestyle. They finish and go home. Coming back from injuries, focusing on all three would have been a bit too big a step, especially mentally, to reach this top level.”
Looking Ahead
Sildaru reflected on her previous bronze medal from Beijing. “I do think about it a little. Especially now, with medal ceremonies happening and others winning medals. It reminds me as well. I don’t think I even knew for a long time, or I never really think about what day I won that bronze.” She celebrated her birthday with a small gathering with family in Livigno.
Understanding the Disciplines:
- Slopestyle: Navigating a full course of multiple rails and jumps.
- Halfpipe: Performing tricks while going back and forth in a 22-foot deep U-shaped ramp.
- Big air: Focusing on a single, massive jump to execute the most difficult tricks.
Japan’s Mari Fukada took gold in the Milano Cortina slopestyle event and Megan Oldham (Canada) won the big air event.
