It's official: Women ski jumpers will compete in 2014 Winter Games

PARK CITY — They fought long and hard in a battle they never quite understood. But women ski jumpers can finally start dreaming of Olympic glory.

The International Olympic Committee announced early Wednesday the decision to include women ski jumpers in the 2014 Sochi (Russia) Winter Games. The women of Team USA gathered at the Park City home of Deedee Corradini, Women's Ski Jumping USA president, waiting hopefully for that single sentence that would end the seven-and-a-half-year battle.

When it came, the room erupted in cheers.

"There was excitement, then an immediate — just sense of relief, and then numbness," Corradini said. "I think it will take a while to really sink in. To hear 'yes' is phenomenal."

She said the moment was historic — for both the athletes and the Games.

"We were the last sport in the Olympic Games, a sport that started in 1924 at the first (Winter) Olympics, that didn't allow women to participate," Corradini said. "This really is history in the making. Sochi is the first totally gender-equal games."

She commended the women of ski jumping around the world, who not only worked hard to excel in their sport but also battled tirelessly for inclusion into the world's biggest athletic competition.

The women repeatedly took their case to the IOC and local organizing committees, while improving the participation numbers and skill level of the sport. Last year, ski jumpers from several countries sued the Vancouver Olympic Committee for inclusion into the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. The court agreed with their argument but said Canada had no right to overrule the IOC.

Those earlier defeats made this victory that much sweeter.

"None of us got excited or got our hopes up," said Corradini. "We've heard 'no' so many times. It's seven years of hearing 'no.' To hear 'yes' is just phenomenal."

"I am thrilled the IOC decided to add our sport," said Park City's Lindsey Van, who won the first Women's Ski Jump World Championship in 2009. "Personally, this means a lot to me. I started ski jumping when there were no international women's competitions. Women's ski jumping has been growing over the past 10 years, but inclusion in the Olympics is what our sport needed to take the next step. We've worked really hard as athletes fighting for our sport, so this feels like a big success."

The team's younger athletes were grateful for the fight waged by Van, Corradini and others.