23
Park City, UT
Born and raised in the mountain town of Park City, Utah, Paige Jones discovered her calling at age 9 through a school program called "Get Out and Play," which introduced elementary students to Olympic sports at the Utah Olympic Park. After starting downhill skiing at age 3 with her father Gordon, Jones was immediately drawn to ski jumping's unique challenge and the thrill of progression—starting on the 5-meter jump and advancing through the 10-, 20-, and 40-meter hills as she grew more confident and skilled.
Unlike many of her teammates who attended specialized sports schools, Jones made the deliberate choice to remain at Park City High School, balancing her athletic aspirations with a traditional education. She competed internationally for the first time at age 15 and earned her first national team selection at 16. Jones represented the United States at the Youth Olympic Winter Games Lausanne 2020, gaining valuable experience on the international stage. The following year brought her breakthrough moment at the 2021 FIS Nordic World Championships when she became the first woman ever to jump an Olympic large hill at a world championships event, a pioneering achievement that earned her recognition as U.S. Ski and Snowboard's 2021 Ski Jumping Athlete of the Year.
Jones's path to Olympic qualification faced significant obstacles. A serious ankle injury requiring surgery derailed her hopes of competing at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, forcing her to watch from home as her teammates competed. The injury was part of a pattern that contributed to anxiety on the jumping ramps, but Jones addressed these challenges head-on through years of work with a sports psychologist, developing the mental resilience necessary for elite competition. She credits this mental training as instrumental to her ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain focus under pressure. Her superstitious ritual of wearing shark socks on competition days became a symbol of her approach—combining preparation with a touch of personal flair.
The 2024-25 season represented Jones's most consistent campaign as she chased her first Olympic berth. After studying at the University of Utah and transferring to the University of North Dakota to pursue her biomedical engineering degree online, Jones committed fully to the world cup circuit. She secured over 10 top 30 results throughout the season and achieved multiple career-best finishes, including her first-ever top 15 result with a 14th-place finish in Ljubno, Slovenia—her third time that season improving her personal best. Her strong summer on the FIS Grand Prix circuit, including a top 20 finish in Val di Fiemme (the Olympic venue), provided momentum heading into the critical Olympic qualifying season. Jones finished the year ranked 28th in the world cup standings, positioned just outside the top 30 threshold that would also qualify her for ski flying events.
Named to the U.S. roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Jones realized a dream deferred from Beijing while achieving another personal milestone. She serves as an athlete liaison for ski jumping at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, advocating for her sport and fellow athletes. Jones credits the Park City community's unwavering support for her development, noting that few places in the world offer such access to Olympians and understanding of the sacrifices required for elite competition.
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The 17-year-old from Park City, Utah, battled through difficult conditions to earn Team USA’s first medal.
