Jennifer Heil’s Olympic journey will come full circle in 2026
Jennifer Heil's narrow Olympic podium miss set her on the path for redemption, culminating in a legendary career - and a leadership role at the next Olympic Winter Games.
Jennifer Heil began skiing at the tender age of two and by the time she was 19 she was already standing on top of a World Cup podium.
Born and raised in the prairies of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Jennifer started skiing on a hill that wasn’t even long enough to fit the two mandatory jumps that her sport required. When she was nine years old, she got a hold of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games preview magazine, and was immediately captivated by the athletes pictured, especially “the look of determination in their eyes.”
Before deciding what sport to pursue, it was already made up in young Jennifer’s mind that she would one day become an Olympic athlete. She eventually settled on freestyle skiing, and she did not have to wait long before accomplishing her dreams.
Jennifer at age 18 was introduced to the world stage as the youngest Canadian skier at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. She placed 4th, missing the podium by an agonizing 0.01 points, the smallest margin possible.
Instead of mourning the narrow miss, Jennifer, with the help of her team, coaches, and mentors, completely redefined how she approached sport. Instead of chasing medals, she challenged herself to be the best she could be. With this approach during her preparations for the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games, she was ready for her race.
Jennifer delivered in Turin, winning the Gold Medal with a score almost a full point ahead of the second-place finisher.
Heading into the Vancouver Olympic Games, she faced incredible pressure to perform. This, coupled with an accident suffered by a competitor and friend of Jennifer’s in the lead up to the Games, culminated in an immense struggle with motivation and fear before Vancouver. Thus, the Silver Medal that Jennifer earned on home soil in 2010 was, by her own admission, her greatest success.
Her other accolades include being a four-time World Cup Overall Women’s Mogul titleholder (2004-2007), two-time FIS World Champion in dual moguls, and an eight-time Canadian champion.
Earlier this year, Jennifer was named the Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, providing her the opportunity to guide and mentor the next generation of Canada’s winter Olympic athletes. She is passionate about the growth in her sport and is a tireless ambassador for creating equal opportunity for women in sport. She has run female-only mogul ski camps and co-founded B2ten that assists Canadian athletes to reach their full potential. Jennifer Heil was awarded the Order of Sport and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.