Vernon athlete Beijing bound after making Olympic team

Jan 24, 2022 | 10:00 AM

A Vernon athlete will be off to Beijing for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Elena Gaskell made the announcement about making Canada’s freestyle ski team on her Instagram page.

“I AM GOING TO THE OLYMPICS!! This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and can hardly believe it is coming true,” said Gaskell, who will compete in the slopestyle/big air competition.

The past few years have not been easy and she has battled a lot of physical and mental struggles, said the 20-year-old on Instagram

“I remember back in October fully crying to my parents because I didn’t believe I would be good enough to make it. I dealt with injury after injury and that takes a toll on you. I am so lucky tho to have such amazing group of people supporting me and help get me through it,” Gaskell remarked.

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

4h ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

Freestyle skiing will take place Feb. 3–19 at the Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou and at the Big Air Shougang in Beijing.

Canada has 24 members on its team.

“I can not wait for this experience. I am so incredibly fortunate. I am looking forward to sharing with you all what lays ahead. Until then wish me luck:),” wrote Gaskell.

Her bio on the Freestyle Canada website says Elena started skiing when she was four years old. Her dad skied when he was younger and brought it on as a family activity. She started freestyle skiing at age seven at the Silver Star Freestyle Club program with her older brother.

“Her brother is one of the reasons why Elena is where she is today: she always wanted to be better than him or be able to do the tricks that he was doing,” the bio stated.

Since joining the National Team in 2016, Gaskell has two World Cup podiums and was named the Big Air World Champion for the 2018-2019 season.

Canada has won 25 medals — 12 gold, nine silver and four bronze — in Olympic freestyle skiing, more than any other country.

by Pete McIntyre

View Comments