Kirsty Muir
Muir in 2020
Personal information
Born (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 19)
Bucksburn-Kingswells, Aberdeen, Scotland
Sport
Country United Kingdom
SportFreestyle skiing
Events
ClubAberdeen Snowsports
Medal record
Women's freestyle skiing
Representing  Great Britain
Winter Youth Olympics
Silver medal – second place 2020 Lausanne Big air
Winter X Games
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Aspen Big air
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Aspen Slopestyle

Kirsty Muir (born 5 May 2004)[1] is a Scottish freestyle skier representing Great Britain who competed in the big air and slopestyle events at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She came second in the big air event at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, and third in the big air and slopestyle events at the 2023 X Games.

Career

Muir started skiing at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre at the age of three.[2] She began with alpine skiing, before switching to freestyle skiing.[3] At the 2018 British Championships, she won the big air, halfpipe and slopestyle events.[4] In 2019, she won the first Europa Cup Slopestyle event in which she competed,[4][5] and won a medal in another Europa Cup event that season.[6] She came second in the 2019 British Championships big air event.[6] At the 2019 FIS Junior World Freestyle Skiing Championships, Muir came second and third in two of the events.[4]

At the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, Muir came second in the big air event,[7] and fourth in the slopestyle event.[8] She was Team GB's flagbearer at the closing ceremony of the Games.[9] Muir competed in the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2021, where she placed sixth in women's ski slopestyle.[10] She came second in the slopestyle event at the 2020–21 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup competition in Aspen, Colorado, US.[7][11] It was her fourth senior event.[3]

Muir competed in the big air and slopestyle events at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[7] She was the youngest Briton at the Games.[12] She finished seventh in the qualification round of the big air event,[11][13] and fifth overall in the final.[14] After the first run in the final, Muir had been in third position,[15] and she was the youngest finalist in the event.[16] Muir came sixth in the slopestyle qualifying round,[17] and eighth in the final, one place ahead of fellow Briton Katie Summerhayes.[18] Muir was shortlisted for the 2022 Downdays Skier of the Year [19]

At the 2023 Winter X Games, Muir came third in the big air[20] and slopestyle events.[21] Muir came second in the big air event in the Beijing leg of the 2023–24 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup and third in the same event at Copper Mountain.[22] She finished third at the Freeski Big Air World Cup event at Copper Mountain. In December 2023, Muir sustained a season ending injury.[23]

Honours

In 2022, Muir was awarded the Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture.[7][2]

Personal life

Muir is from Kingswells, Aberdeen, Scotland, and attends Bucksburn Academy.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Kirsty Muir". Olympedia. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Teenage skier competing in Beijing wins prestigious youth award". STV. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Kirsty Muir describes whirlwind year as Scots teen makes herself force to be reckoned with in skiing". The Herald. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Kirsty Muir". GB Snowsport. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Winter Olympics: Once-in-a-generation athlete Kirsty Muir aiming for Team GB's first medal of Beijing 2022". The Evening Standard. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Kirsty Muir: Freestyle skier from Scotland is 'one in a generation athlete'". BBC Sport. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d "Olympic skier, 17, wins award celebrating young in outdoor pursuits". The Independent. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Scotland's Kirsty Muir Takes 4th in Youth Winter Olympics Slopestyle in Lausanne". In the Snow. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  9. ^ "DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR KIRSTY MUIR AT LAUSANNE 2020". Team GB. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Women's Freeski Slopestyle March 13, 2021 – OFFICIAL RESULTS". data.fis-ski.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Kirsty Muir: Scottish skier at Winter Olympics Beijing 2022, who is Team GB teenager aiming for skiing Big Air gold?". The Scotsman. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Kirsty Muir announces her prodigious teenage talent on Winter Olympic stage". The Independent. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Winter Olympics: British teenager Kirsty Muir qualifies for ski big air final". BBC Sport. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Winter Olympics: British teenager Kirsty Muir finishes fifth in ski big air". BBC Sport. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Winter Olympics 2022: Schoolgirl Kirsty Muir produces best in final but 'insane' level edges her out of medals". The Independent. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Aberdeen teenage sensation Kirsty Muir soars to stunning fifth-place finish in Beijing Big Air at Winter Olympics". Daily Record. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Winter Olympics: Team GB's Kirsty Muir and Katie Summerhayes into freeski slopestyle final". BBC Sport. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Winter Olympics: Kirsty Muir and Katie Summerhayes miss out on freeski slopestyle medals". BBC Sport. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  19. ^ Martin, Iain (24 December 2020). "174: Kirsty Muir, Freestyle Skier – The Ski Podcast". Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  20. ^ "X Games 2023: Kirsty Muir of Great Britain wins ski big air bronze". BBC Sport. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Winter X Games Aspen 2023 Day 3: Double gold for Oldham, McMorris makes history, Forehand earns perfect score and Wise makes it five". International Olympic Committee. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Freeski Big Air World Cup: GB's Kirsty Muir secures second podium of season". BBC Sport. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Kirsty Muir: GB British freestyle skier 'shocked' by knee injury that curtails her best season". BBC Sport. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Freestyle skiing: Kirsty Muir on her Winter Olympics goal". BBC Sport. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.

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