A six-strong team will represent GB Snowsport at the FIS Nordic Junior + U23 Cross-Country World Ski Championships in Oberwiesenthal, Germany.
The event, which runs from 28th February – 8th March, will see GB Snowsport compete across Cross-Country, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined.
The event is split between junior’s (U20s) and U23s. Three GB Snowsport athletes who competed at Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games will take part in the junior category – Mani Cooper, Sam Bolton and James Slimon.
Mani Cooper made history at Lausanne 2020 when she became the first female Briton ever to compete in a Ski Jumping event at an Olympic Games. Sam Bolton also became the first male to compete in Ski Jumping at the Youth Olympic Games since Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards.
Also competing in the junior Cross-Country squad is Cameron Cruickshank and Alexander Franks Penty. Hamish Wolfe and Oliver Newman will be competing in Cross-Country in the U23 category.
Vicky Gosling, GB Snowsport Chief Executive, said: “The Nordic Junior World Championship is a fantastic platform for developing stars, providing a unique opportunity to experience a multi-discipline event alongside GB Snowsport athletes.
“We are excited to take six athletes, who have trained hard to be in a position to represent GB Snowsport in Germany and I hope the event will act as vital competitive experience for them.”
Ski Jumper Sam Bolton: "I am thrilled and excited to be named to the GB Snowsports team for World Juniors. I am looking forward to the opportunity to compete in my first World Junior Championships and to doing my best for GB."
Mani Cooper, who will be competing in both Ski jumping and Nordic combined, said: “I am excited about competing in the World Junior Championships and hope to keep the progress going.”
James Slimon who also competed at the Youth Olympic Games last month said: “I'm really looking forward to FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships and representing GB Snowsport and my country.”
U23 cross-country skier Hamish Wolfe said: “I am very pleased and honoured to be representing GB Snowsport at U23 World Junior Championships in Germany in the coming weeks.”
Oliver Newman, who competed for Team GB in the sport of cross country skiing at the Erzurum 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival, said: “I am really looking forward to competing at these Championships for the third time, first time as an under 23. These races have been my main motivation for training over the last year so it will be exciting to see if the hard work has paid off.”
Cameron Cruickshank, who’s love of the sport started after seeing Huntly Nordic Ski Club practice in rollerskis, said: "I am really looking forward to my first Nordic World Junior Championships in Oberwiesenthal. Qualifying for FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships has been a long-term aim of mine, so to be selected is a brilliant feeling, and knowing these next few weeks are the most important in my career so far is a huge motivation boost."
The event will start on the 29th February and end on the 8th March. For media requests during the event please contactMichael.gibson@gbsnowsport.com or 07525478995.
Full squad below:
Cross Country
U23 Category
Hamish Wolfe
Oliver Newman
U20/WJC Category
James Slimon (competed at YOG)
Cameron Cruickshank
Alexander Franks Penty
Ski Jumping
Sam Bolton & Mani Cooper (both competed at YOG)
Nordic Combined
Mani Cooper
All event details are available here
GB Snowsport Press Release