Sport: Ski Cross Nickname: SJ, Sam DOB: 26-05-1988 Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW Place of Residence:Manly & Jindabyne, NSW OWIA Athlete Performance Contract Commenced: 2010 Institute/Academy: NSWIS
Personal Best Results:
Olympic Winter Games - 8th, PyeongChang, KOR, 2018
World Championships - 12th, Kreischberg, AUT, 2015
World Cup - 2nd, Idre Fjall, SWE, 2017
Note: current as @ 18 February 2022
Olympic Winter Games Attended
2014 - Sochi, Russia
2018 - PyeongChang, Korea
2022 - Beijing, China
BIOGRAPHY
Sami made the switch from Alpine Skiing to Ski Cross in 2008 – progressing through the international events until 2011 when she made her first top-ten in a World Cup and in the same year married Australian Cross Country skiing athlete and 2010 Olympian - Ben Sim.
2012 consolidated on the previous year with five top-ten World Cup results and a personal best end of season World Cup ranking of 11th.
In April 2013, Kennedy-Sim suffered an infarct stroke (cerebral infarction). Luckily the stroke was relatively minor and after five days in hospital and subsequent private treatment, she was able to return to light training a couple of months later and eventually return to full training. Early 2014 marked many milestones including a then personal best fourth place in the Val Thorens, France World Cup along with qualifying to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, where she came 28th and followed up the next month with another World Cup top-ten. Kennedy-Sim placed 12th in the World Championships in January 2015 and the following 2015/16 season stepped up the pace reaching four World Cup semi-finals (placing 6th,7th,7th,7th) as her racing skills and determination solidified.
High volume back-to-back Ski Cross racing was introduced in December 2016 with the Cross Alps tour in Europe. Kennedy-Sim matched her previous career best making the final and a fourth place in Arosa, Switzerland and added a silver medal in the Europa Cup in Lenk.
Encouraging results throughout the season culminated in February 2017 at Idre Fjall, Sweden when she stood on the World Cup podium for the first time collecting a silver medal. Sami Kennedy-Sim went on to record three more top-ten results (10th, 7th, 5th) before competing in the 2017 World Championships, placing 12th.
Making her second Olympic appearance at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games, she finished fourth in the women’s ski cross small final. After narrowly missing a spot in the big final, Kennedy Sim’s final result of eighth place in 2018 was an Olympic personal best finish.
In 2018-2019, Kennedy-Sim had another strong season, with three top ten results, highlighted by a fifth place finish at the Feldberg, Germany, World Cup event.
Kennedy-Sim recorded three semi-final performances during the 2019-2020 World Cup season, with her highest place result being a sixth place finish, which she achieved twice, the first in Arosa, Switzerland, in December and the second in Idre Fjall, Sweden.
At the opening World Cup of the 2020-2021 season, Kennedy-Sim started the season in great form winning the second World Cup medal of her career, claiming the bronze medal on day one in Arosa, Switzerland. The following day Kennedy-Sim had another strong performance with a sixth place semi-final performance and was third on the World Cup standings after two events.
Unfortunately at the next World Cup event in Val Thorens, France, Kennedy-Sim suffered an elbow injury in training. The injury required surgery, with Kennedy-Sim having to return to Australia and miss the remaining events on the World Cup schedule.
At the opening World Cup of the 2021-2022 World Cup season, Kennedy-Sim returned to competition with a 15th place finish at the Olympic test event in Secret Garden, China.
Kennedy-Sim also had additional top-16 finishes in Nakiska, Canada, and twice in Idre Fjall, Sweden, which included a seasons best fifth place performance and small final victory.
The fifth place result at the final World Cup before the Olympics will give Kennedy-Sim confidence as she competes at her third Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Q & A
Proudest moment: Marrying my husband Ben Sim in 2011…...AND standing on the WC podium in 2017!
I began Ski Cross in ... 2008 because I needed a change. So I did a Ski cross for fun… and here I am years later.
When I am not training or competing I am: Stand Up Paddle boarding surfing, cycling , spending time with my family and friends and sampling cafes near by.
I enjoy my sport because Anything can happen in Ski Cross. I love the feeling of overtaking someone.
Education: Mosman High School and Snowy Mountains Grammar School and the well-being science institute.
Favourite international competition: Blue Mountain, Canada… I love going to an English speaking country after a few months in Europe.
Favourite Food: Chocolate.
Favourite Music: Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix, Kylie Minogue
Favourite other sport to watch or play: I love to watch Rugby and athletics and love to SUP surf and play touch football.
Favourite sporting team: Manly Sea Eagles and the Australian Olympic Team
My Hero is: Manuela Berchtold. Australian Olympian, business owner and one of the most generous people I have ever met. She inspired me to get involved with the skiing community more and more.
Sponsors: Stöckli, Lexi, XTM, Dalbello, Karbon and True Protein
Childhood Ambition: To be an Olympian. Also to work in the media in some size shape or form,