Get to know: Mani Cooper (GBR)

17-year-old Mani Cooper is Great Britain’s first-ever female Nordic Combined athlete and made history by competing in last winter’s Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne. This week, we’re getting to know her better with our regular set of questions!

How did you start with skiing / Nordic Combined?

I started Ski Jumping after watching the Four Hills Tournament with my dad. I just knew I had to give it a go. I started with Nordic Combined two years later, after joining the Tyrolean Ski Federation.

Why did you pick Nordic Combined as your sport, what fascinates you most about it?

After I tried Nordic Combined I knew it was my sport. Ski Jumping just wasn’t enough on its own. Like this, I am able to combine two amazing sports.

What do you have to work harder on, the ski jumping or the cross-country skiing?

I am always trying to work my hardest on both but some days or weeks focus more on the Ski Jumping part or some more on endurance and technical sides of Cross-Country Skiing.

Do you have a sports idol/role model (inside or outside of Nordic Combined)?

I do look up to the older athletes who are more experienced, watching their techniques and getting any tips. In terms of role models outside of Nordic combined, track and field athlete Jessica Ennis Hill is kind of a role model for me. She has retired but I love watching her race. Even when it got hard she put her head down and went for it.

What was your greatest/best/most exciting moment in Nordic Combined so far?

It was definitely at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, when we were skiing up the first hill and the crowd was being so loud that one couldn’t even hear oneself breathing. It even gives me goosebumps just thinking about it now.

What are your goals for the next season?

I really want to work hard to be able to start and to be competitive in the World Cups and to be part of the first ever FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Follow Mani on Instagram!