Cross country skier Casey Wright, from Don Valley, has taken a short break from her training and studies in Alaska to visit family and friends in the Yarra Valley.
She competed in her first Winter Olympics in two events as part of the Australian ski team in PyeongChang, South Korea, in February.
At 23 years of age, she is completing a degree in sports science at the University of Alaska in Anchorage and anticipates graduating in May next year.
Casey spends more than 700 hours a year in training and completes many four-hour plus training sessions to build a solid fitness base.
She enjoys cross training and whether at home in Don Valley or in Alaska, she can be found outdoors mountain biking, trail running, mountain running and road cycling.
“I grew up training in these mountains and love being back among the gum trees,” she said.
“My parents are both outdoor education teachers so I’ve skied and enjoyed the outdoors since I was a child.”
While on her break in the Yarra Valley she has taken time to speak to children at Don Valley, Yarra Junction and Woori Yallock primary schools.
She shared stories of life as an Olympic cross country skier and encouraged children to chase their dreams.
“Cross country skiing is not a high profile sport in Australia,” she said.
“There’s not a huge amount of support for the sport, so reaching a top level is an achievement in itself.”
Casey will return to Alaska to prepare for the northern hemisphere winter and competitive season.
She will compete with the University of Alaska Ski team in the Rocky Mountains Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA), which allows her to develop at “the front end of the pack as a competitive skier” against high-end teams from Denver, Colorado and Utah.
“It’s a great step toward racing full time in Europe one day,” she said.
Her sights are now firmly set on Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Casey finished 63rd in the Ladies’ Sprint Classic and 81st in the 10km Free in PyeongChang.
“I’m determined. I’ve found what I love to do and I give 110 per cent,” she said.
