New CEO of US skiing ‘confident’ of Olympic results, medals

The brand new president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Affiliation has vivid reminiscences of her first time clicking into boots on a mountain in Chamonix, France, throughout a college journey at age 12. Sophie Goldschmidt’s greatest sport was all the time tennis — that’s what introduced her from London to Baylor College on a scholarship — however the affinity for snowboarding caught.

Now Goldschmidt runs the federation that can account for about half of the U.S. athletes headed to the Beijing Olympics in lower than two months, and sure among the greatest names, reminiscent of ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin and snowboarders Chloe Kim and Shaun White.

“We’ve got form of inside objectives that we don’t form of share publicly, as a result of I believe it simply provides strain to athletes and others, however we have now process-oriented objectives, medal objectives, the variety of athletes that really qualify total. … So we’ve bought sort of these proper measurements and processes in place,” she stated Wednesday in a video interview with The Related Press. “However we’re assured that we will ship some actually good outcomes and hopefully a bunch of medals.”

Goldschmidt had been CEO of the World Surf League and her earlier expertise contains stints on the NBA, Girls’s Tennis Affiliation and PGA European Tour. Her hiring by USSA to interchange Tiger Shaw as CEO was introduced in September; she started working there in October, primarily based in Park Metropolis, Utah.

The group governs Alpine, cross-country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, Nordic mixed and ski leaping in america.

Given the short turnaround to the Winter Video games, which open Feb. 4, Goldschmidt doesn’t foresee any speedy strikes.

“I’ve no set plans or adjustments that I’ve form of selected at this stage. I believe that might be form of placing the cart earlier than the horse,” Goldschmidt stated. “I believe I’m bringing a number of related expertise to the position, however I’m additionally considerably of an outsider, as a result of I’ve by no means labored in snow sports activities. So I wish to be very considerate. I’m not going to delay making adjustments as wanted. However I additionally wish to ensure that I actually spend time studying, listening, talking.”

Throughout her time on the ladies’s skilled tennis tour, Goldschmidt stated, she bought to know Peng Shuai, the Grand Slam doubles champion from China who dropped out of public view final month after accusing a former high-ranking authorities official there of sexual assault in a social media put up that shortly disappeared.

The WTA announced last week it would be suspending all tournaments in China till it might have contact with Peng and there’s a full investigation into her allegations.

The problem has resonated with China set to host the Olympics.

“What occurred to Peng … was scary. … There must be deeper understanding and direct, in-person communication, to ensure that that she’s OK,” Goldschmidt stated. “However at this stage, our athletes, rightly so, wish to be targeted on their coaching, the competitions which are arising and placing themselves in the perfect place doable to compete for the U.S. staff and hopefully have success in Beijing. And I believe that’s their job. … Clearly on the finish of the day, athletes are free to speak nevertheless they need and we’re by no means going to restrict or forestall them from having their voice. That goes towards the whole lot that we stand for.”

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Extra AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics

Extra AP snowboarding: https://apnews.com/hub/snowboarding and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports