Maïa Schwinghammer embarked on her Olympic journey not on a mountain but behind a snowmobile, being pulled across Christopher Lake in Saskatchewan. “I grew up in Saskatoon,” Schwinghammer recalled. “My parents managed the local hill, Mount Blackstrap, where I first learned to ski.” Despite its modest size, Blackstrap provided the foundational skills for her skiing development.
Her father, Rick, played a significant role in introducing her to freestyle skiing, shaping her early exposure to the sport. Living in Saskatchewan, known for its flat terrain, ski trips became a routine part of Schwinghammer’s life. By the age of eight, she was balancing school with frequent trips to ski destinations like Calgary, Banff, Sunshine, Lake Louise, Fernie, and Red Mountain.
Although Milano-Cortina will mark her first Olympics as a contender, Schwinghammer’s Olympic aspirations ignited during the 2010 Games when she was eight years old. Skiing alongside elite athletes in Whistler further fueled her determination, leading her to join the provincial team at 15 and the national team two years later.
Despite facing setbacks at the 2019 World Championships and the loss of a close teammate in 2020, Schwinghammer’s resolve remained undeterred. While narrowly missing qualification for the Beijing Olympics in 2022, she views this experience as a driving force for her current success. Winning her first World Cup on home soil secured her ticket to the 2026 Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
Throughout her journey, Schwinghammer emphasizes the importance of visualization, meditation, and maintaining a calm mindset in high-pressure situations. Her father, a constant source of support, has been with her every step of the way, from those early days on the Saskatchewan lake to witnessing her compete on the world stage.
As she prepares for the upcoming Olympics, Schwinghammer’s focus is on giving her best performance while cherishing the experience. “Top to bottom, I want you to have fun,” her father, Rick, expressed. “And however it turns out, we’ve already won.”
