In a groundbreaking achievement for British winter sports, Katie Summerhayes has marked her name in history by becoming the first British woman to clinch a medal at the World Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championships. This feat came as she soared to a silver medal in the ski slopestyle event held in Kreischberg, Austria. The Sheffield teenager’s journey to the podium involved a dramatic series of performances, particularly shining through in her third and final run to secure a remarkable score. The detailed account below captures the essence of Summerhayes’ triumphant experience, the intense competition, and the celebratory atmosphere of the championships, as reported by ESPN’s dedicated sports media team.
Katie Summerhayes, a young athlete from Sheffield, has made history by becoming the first British woman to earn a medal at the World Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championships. At the age of 19, Summerhayes secured a silver medal in the ski slopestyle competition held in Kreischberg, Austria. She finished behind the event’s winner, Lisa Zimmerman from the host country, managing a score of 82.80 against Zimmerman’s 85.80. Expressing her excitement, Summerhayes shared her satisfaction with her performance, highlighting the hard work that led to her success and commending the great atmosphere created by a strong field of competitors. This accomplishment follows her seventh-place finish in the same category during the Winter Olympics in Sochi the previous year.