Brabec Strikes Silver at 2024 FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships
Alexa Brabec brought home the first-ever medal in women’s nordic combined for the United States at Junior World Championships, striking silver in the HS102/5k in Planica, Slovenia. Kai McKinnon was able to record a top 10 finish as well, placing sixth overall in her first-ever Junior Worlds appearance.
On the hill, Brabec jumped to the 10th position, putting together an 86.5 meter jump for 97.1 points, +1:08 behind first place for the 5k race. McKinnon jumped to 15th, as she went 79.5 meters for 94.3 points. Ella Wilson finished 29th, going 71.0 meters for 73.7 points, with Haley Brabec rounding things off in 30th, jumping to 71.0 meters for 68.4 points.
In the 5k, Brabec skied up to fourth place after 1.25k, before sliding into first place after 3.75k, just +0.7 seconds in front of Finland’s Minja Korhonen. Brabec crossed the finish line in second overall, +1.5 seconds behind Korhonen to bring home the silver medal for the United States.
“Unbelievably proud of Alexa and Kai,” said Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Sport Director Anders Johnson. “Alexa has been on a roll the past few weeks building into the Junior World Championships and really fought hard for her silver medal today. And with Kai right behind her in sixth place, it shows how strong our women’s nordic combined team is at the moment.”
Haley Brabec finished the 5k in 26th place, with Wilson right behind in 27th.
Results
HS102/5km
Alexa Brabec
Alexa Brabec was a member of the first team of women to represent the United States in Nordic Combined at a World Championship event. She also competed in the 2020 Youth Olympics. One day, she hopes to compete at the Olympics on the world stage.
Brabec is a huge soccer fan, and growing up, she idolized U.S. Women’s National Team Member, Tobin Heath. Brabec still plays in the spring and the fall as cross-training for skiing. Her sister, Haley, is also a Nordic Combined athlete.