Cleveland Heights Sends Sole U.S. Girl to International Skiing Competition

Gwen Wright is the only American girl who competed in cross-country skiing at the International Children’s Games in Ufa, Russia last week.

A 12-year-old Roxboro Middle School student, Gwen finshed in the top half of the 3.5 km freestyle race, racing nearly 100 other girls from around the world.

She’s been skiing since she was three years old.

Her parents picked up cross-country skiing in 1980, and when Gwen was just three, they enrolled her in the Hilltoppers ski team.

With a Shaker Heights boy and four other teammates, she traveled to Russia last weekend to compete in the games, which are an Olympics-style competition for kids aged 12 to 14.

She says the years of practice have taught her sportsmanship, and her father agrees. “Racing is fun whether you win or not … I think it’s provided good exercise and a fun activity,” he said. “And a love of skiing that will last her her whole life.”

He said that the discipline she learned will help prepare her for challenges later in life.

And Gwen’s thoughts on what makes it cool to be the only American girl competing? “I can beat all the boys,” she said.