Jesse Cockney facts for kids
Jesse Cockney (born July 26, 1989, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories) is a Canadian Olympic cross-country skier. He is from the Inuvialuit people, an Indigenous group in Canada. His father, Angus Cockney, was also a Canadian national ski team member and champion. Jesse made his Olympic debut at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. There, he competed in two events: the sprint (the shortest race) and the 50-kilometer mass start (the longest race). Before the Olympics, Jesse had a very successful junior career. He won three gold medals at the 2011 Canada Winter Games. These wins were in the 15-kilometer classic race, the free sprint, and the 4x5-kilometer relay. He also started racing in the World Cup in 2011. Jesse grew up in Canmore, Alberta, where he joined a special ski development program. He is a member of the Nordic Hills Ski Club and the Canadian Senior Team. Jesse speaks both English and French. His younger sister, Marika Sila, is an actress and activist.
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Jesse Cockney's Skiing Journey
Jesse Cockney made his first Olympic appearance in Sochi, Russia, in 2014. He competed in both the fast sprint race and the long-distance race. Before this, he had great success as a junior skier. He won four medals at the 2011 Canada Winter Games, including three gold and one bronze. He also placed sixth in the classic sprint at the 2011 FIS Nordic Ski World Under-23 Championships.
Rising Star: His Career Highlights
Jesse first raced in a World Cup event in January 2011. In December 2012, he finished ninth in the free sprint race. This race took place in his hometown of Canmore, Alberta. Jesse shows a lot of promise as a member of the Canadian National Team. He is part of the Foothills Nordic Ski Club and is becoming a well-known skier.
Big Wins and World Cup Races
In 2011, at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Jesse won three gold medals. These were for the 4x5-kilometer relay, the sprint free, and the 15-kilometer classic race. In the FIS Nordic Ski Championships, he finished twelfth in the 4x10-kilometer relay in 2011. He also placed fifteenth in the sprint free and forty-eighth in the 15-kilometer classic that year. In 2013, Jesse finished twelfth again in the 4x10-kilometer relay and fortieth in the sprint classic. His best finish came in 2015, when he placed tenth in the 4x10-kilometer relay. He also finished thirteenth in the team sprint free and fourteenth in the sprint classic. Jesse continued to compete, earning points in World Cup races. In February 2017, he finished tenth in the classic sprint at a test event for the Olympics.
Olympic Dreams Come True
Jesse's most recent competition was at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. There, he competed in the men's cross-country skiing sprint classic and finished 35th overall.
More About Jesse
Jesse Cockney started skiing when he was only three years old in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. His father, Angus Cockney, was a big influence on him, both in sports and in learning about his culture. Being from the Inuvialuit heritage, Jesse learned many traditional stories and carvings from his father. To help him become an even better skier, his family moved to Canmore, Alberta, when he was seven. Growing up in Alberta's ski programs helped Jesse improve his skills a lot. He says his parents and close friends helped him reach his goals. Jesse is very proud of his Aboriginal heritage as an Inuvialuit. One of his personal goals is to be a good role model for Aboriginal children in Canada.
Life Beyond the Snow
When Jesse is not busy with his competitive skiing career, he enjoys several hobbies. He likes to cook, climb, and travel. He also enjoys watching and playing American football, and he loves to fish. In 2022, Jesse competed with his sister Marika Sila on the TV show The Amazing Race Canada 8.
Jesse's Olympic Results
| Event | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint | Jesse Cockney Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics  |
53rd |
| 50 kilometre | Jesse Cockney Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics |
56th |
| 4x10 kilometre relay | Jesse Cockney Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics |
12th |
| Sprint | Jesse Cockney Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics |
35th |
