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Jordan Parent

Women's Skiing Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

National Girls & Women in Sports Day: Jordan Parent

National Girls & Women in Sports Day is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of February. This day is dedicated to recognizing female athletic achievements and promoting opportunities for girls in sports.

Today, the NMU Athletics Department is celebrating girls and women, both past and present, to honor the achievements of women in sports, acknowledge the impact of sports participation, and advocate for equality and inclusion for girls in athletics.

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- Growing up with older siblings can sometimes be tricky. For Jordan Parent, her older siblings were the catalyst that enabled her connection to sports.

"I have been surrounded by sports as long as I can remember, and watching my older siblings play sports sparked my competitive side. It was probably middle school when I figured out skiing would be an important part of my life and something I really enjoy doing." 

Jordan grew up with her family and siblings in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and had a unique opportunity to be around the greatest to ever compete in cross-country skiing from very early on in her career. 

Jessie Diggins, the most accomplished cross-country skier from the United States in the sport's history - having won three World Cup overall titles, three Olympic medals, seven World Championship medals, and numerous other event championships - grew up a half an hour away in Saint Paul, and could frequently be found at local conference events. Diggins now enters her final Olympics in the best form of her career, the world's top cross-country skier for the past two seasons, and will retire from the sport at the end of the season.

Diggins' personality was infectious, and something that Parent now emulates in her own craft.

"I skied in the same conference as her; never at the same time, but she would be around from time to time. She was always so positive and bubbly, and I try my best to bring that with me to practice or race weekends. Being supportive and inclusive to the younger skiers is very important, and I want to feel like a resource they can use for any questions."

National Girls and Women in Sports Day can have a different meaning for everyone, including building powerful relationships and learning valuable lessons. 

"Women in Sports Day is a day to appreciate my fellow teammates and iconic female athletes around the world. Being a woman in sports has allowed me to learn hard work and discipline, which not only helps me on the course, but in the classroom and in day-to-day life." 

Parent is in her third season with the Wildcats, and is coming off a sophomore year that saw her finish fourth on the team and ninth in the CCSA conference with 103 points. Jordan says that she is "proud to represent cross-country skiing and being surrounded by so many great female athletes", and that she has made lifelong bonds with her teammates she competes alongside.

"The women I compete against have become some of my best friends. Skiing is a huge community, and widespread friendships are very common. Whether it's a friend on a team in Alaska or an international teammate from Norway, they push me to be better, and most importantly, they have given me some of the best memories I could ask for." 

"I never thought I'd make these connections, but I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Building relationships with teammates and competitors is highly impactful, but for Jordan, her older sister Jenna was and will continue to be one of the most influential people in her skiing career.

"Jenna was originally the person who inspired me to ski. One of my favorite memories on skis is skiing with her in her senior year, and I was in 7th grade. It felt like a full-circle moment; she had been there every step of the way for me. I still see her when she comes to watch race weekends, and she'll even train with me from time to time." 

"I know that I'll be skiing with her for a long time after college, and I'm excited for more skiing memories with her. She's my idol for sports, school, and life, and I couldn't thank her enough for the friendship and guidance she has given me." 



 
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Parent

Jordan Parent

Junior

Players Mentioned

Jordan Parent

Jordan Parent

Junior