Freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru is this year’s winner of the Piotr Nurowski Prize for Best European Young Athlete in winter sports. The award for presented to her at the EOC seminar gala dinner in Skopje on 19 May, following a final vote by secret ballot that morning. Kelly is one of five extremely talented young finalists chosen by the NOCs of Europe for their sports results and their sense of Olympism.

Born in Tallinn, 15 years ago, Kelly has been a competitive athlete since 2011. Among her best results are: in 2015, 1^st place at Dew Tour / Slopestyle / Breckenridge (Colorado, USA); in 2016, she won a 1^st place at European the Freeski Open three times  / Slopestyle in Laax (SUI), then again at Dew Tour / Slopestyle  in Breckenridge and at X Games / Slopestyle / Aspen, Colorado USA.

She became the first athlete under 15 to win X games gold twice, and the only woman to get two medals in single X Games.

Kelly Sildaru says: “My main goal is to become an all-round skier with very technical skills combined with the touch of ease and enjoyment. Being a role-model for other kids and even grown-ups, is my fuel.”

This was the second winter edition of the Winter Nurowski Prize created in 2010, and named after the late Polish NOC President.

Kelly Sildaru and the other four nominees – Alex VINATZER (Italy) alpine skiing, Birk RUUD (Norway) Freestyle Slopestyle & Big Air, Kamila STORMOWSKA (Poland) Short Track and Nika KRIZNAR (Slovenia) Ski jumping  – all were in Skopje, where they presented themselves and were warmly welcomed by the participants at the Seminar.

Kelly will receive a scholarship to help her to reach the very top in her sport. All nominees received the EOC Piotr Nurowski Trophy.