Skiers Sami Kennedy-Sim and Abi Harrigan Selected for Australian Olympic Team

The Australian Olympic Committee has selected 33-year-old Sami Kennedy-Sim and 19-year-old Abi Harrigan in the Australian Olympic Team for Beijing.

Kennedy-Sim makes history as the first Australian to compete at three Olympics in Ski Cross, while Olympic debutant Harrigan will compete in Freeski Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Air, with the Ski Big Air event making its Olympic debut in Beijing.

Kennedy-Sim’s Olympic journey is one of incredible resilience and strength, with the Manly local recovering from a stroke suffered in 2013, just nine months before the Sochi Olympics. While there were doubts that she could ever even ski again in 2013, Kennedy-Sim defied the odds to make her Olympic debut in 2014 and continue to excel on the world stage.

Kennedy-Sim is currently 23rd in the World Cup rankings, in her comeback season after injury cut short her 2020/21.

Abi Harrigan grew up in one of the heartlands of Australia’s winter community in Jindabyne, competing at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2020. She had her best result of the season in last week’s World Cup event in Font Romeu, France, finishing 13th in the Slopestyle.

The majority of Ski Cross and Freeski competition will take place in Genting Snow Park in the Zhangjiakou region, with the Big Air event taking place in the spectacular Big Air Shougang in Beijing.

Snow Australia CEO, Michael Kennedy, welcomed today’s selection announcement.

“A huge congratulations to Sami, she’ll become a triple Olympian and has long been someone who has provided great leadership and support to all aspiring and current Winter Olympians,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Sami is one of the most resilient athletes and we know her experience and strong lead into the Games will put her in a great position in Beijing. On her day Sami can mix it with the best in the world.

“It is great to see Youth Winter Olympian Abi Harrigan’s hard work and persistence pay off to secure a start across three events. It has been a steady rise for Abi having competed at the Youth Olympics two years ago and now she’s earned a spot on the main stage.”

Kennedy-Sim, currently competing in the Ski Cross World Cup in Idre Fjall, Sweden, was ecstatic to make her third Olympic team.

“I am so proud to have been selected to represent Australia at my third Games. While these Games will be different from others I have experienced, there is really no better feeling than donning the green and gold on the world stage.

“Having an Olympics in a similar time zone to Australia means that I will feel connected with my friends and family – Ski Cross is on at prime time so I can’t wait to share this experience with everyone, I’m so excited!

Kennedy’s stroke which threatened to not only derail her 2014 Olympic dreams but have sever lifelong impact was caused by a post-surgery blood clot in 2013, ironically dislodged from her calf and making its way to her brain when her cat named Sochi jumped on her surgically repaired leg.

“When it happened my husband [2010 Winter Olympian Ben Sim] recognised what was happening, called the ambulance, and within seven minutes I was in hospital receiving a drug to dissolve that clot. With all I know about stroke now, timing is everything and Ben recognising the signs and acting fast was everything.

“I’ve had such a good recovery, on my way to my third Olympics. I made that full recovery, and it’s shaped me now to be incredibly resilient.”

Teenager Harrigan will compete in both the Zhangjiakou mountain cluster and at the Big Air Shougang in Beijing, the world’s first permanent Big Air venue.

“I’m absolutely frothing to be selected for the Beijing 2022 team, just super excited,” Harrigan said.

“It’s the first time Big Air is in the Olympics and I get to compete, it’s amazing. I’m so excited to be on the biggest stage.

“I’m in Livigno at the moment which is 2026 Olympic venue, and will head to Laax in Switzerland to get my final training done.”

Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team for Beijing, Geoff Lipshut, congratulated the athletes on their selection.

“I’m thrilled to announce that Sami and Abi are in the Australian Olympic Team for Beijing,” Mr Lipshut said.

“Sami has shown enormous determination and courage to make history as Australia’s first athlete to compete at three Olympics in Ski Cross, and her experience will be invaluable not just in her own campaign but for her teammates as well.

“Abi has been skiing since she can walk, and to make an Olympic Team just two years after competing at the Youth Olympics is great testament to her skill and growth as an athlete.

“Thank you to Snow Australia continuing to support and develop world class winter athletes and world class people, and to the New South Wales Institute of Sport for your support of Sami and Abi.”

The Ski Cross competition will run from 17-18 February and Freeski Big Air, Slopestyle and Halfpipe from 7-19 February.