Winter Vinecki: Competing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in Aerial Skiing & Smashing World Records!

Welcome to Season 2/Episode 1 of Smart As A Cookie: The Podcast, presented by USA Girl Scouts Overseas in partnership with Pop Singer/Songwriter Kristina Lachaga! 

For the kickoff episode to Season 2...we're so excited to introduce you to Winter Vinecki: Olympian, Athlete, Entrepreneur and Motivational Speaker! And...Winter even competed for Team USA in Aerial Skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China! 

Winter Vinecki joined us right before she traveled to Beijing to compete in Aerial Skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics (WHOA!) and gave amazing advice for girls pursuing their big dreams and goals, shared what it's like to smash world records and change the world (Go #TeamWinter!), and even told us what it feels like to fly. Winter is SO inspiring!

Winter Lee Vinecki was born on December 18, 1998 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She grew up in Gaylord, Michigan and Salem, Oregon and now trains in Park City, Utah.

After losing her Dad at the age of 9 to an aggressive form of prostate cancer, she formed TeamWinter.org a 501 (c) (3) non-profit to raise money for prostate cancer research & awareness. She has raised over $500,000 toward that effort and counting.

Winter began racing triathlons at the age of 5 and completed her first Olympic triathlons at 9. She went on to become the Ironkids National Champion for 2010 & 2011 and spent three years as the official ambassador of the sport.

Winter was also the 2011 recipient of the Annika Inspiration Award. At age 12, Winter was invited to an aerial skiing camp by two-time Olympian, Emily Cook. After completing the week long camp, Winter moved to Park City, UT to train and compete for the next three years on the Fly Freestyle elite development team. During that time, she set a world record by becoming the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents, the youngest person to run 26.2 miles on Antarctica and the first mother/daughter duo to run a marathon on all seven continents.

Winter was first named to the US Ski Team in 2016 after winning the North American Tour. She is now going on her sixth year on the US Ski Team and has garnered results such as the gold medal at the 2021 Moscow World Cup. After Beijing 2022, she also became the first "Winter" to compete in the Winter Olympics!

All the while, Winter recently graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah with a major in Business Administration and a minor in nutrition. She is also a seasoned public speaker and speaks to thousands every year at conferences, schools, sports teams, cooperate events and more.

Keep up with Winter's adventures on her Website and Instagram!

Hope you enjoy our interview with Winter!

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Host: @KristinaLachaga

Website: www.USAGSO.org, www.KristinaLachaga.com