Just over two months after she became Great Britain’s first ever Olympic medallist on snow, we caught up with snowboarder Jenny Jones to hear first-hand about her Olympic experience, find out what she has been doing since Sochi, and learn why curling in Scotland is on her agenda.
Over three million people watched your slopestyle final on TV in the UK, what has the response been like since you’ve been home?
The main thing I get is ‘you’re Jenny the snowboarder, we watched you and we cried!’ Or ‘how lovely is your mum?!’ Overall I think people really enjoyed the sport and watching slopestyle, seeing us coming down and hitting rails and jumps. It’s an exciting sport and I think that really came across during Sochi, I think people could tell how much fun we were having, too. I really feel like people were inspired by it, so I hope they go out there and give it a go.
How did Sochi compare to other events you’ve competed in?
I’ve done a lot of international events in my career, but Sochi was obviously my first Olympic Games. When I arrived and was checking out the course, it seemed very much the same as a normal competition, but as the Games got closer I noticed a lot more interest from friends and family, and I started getting loads of messages. I realised that it was a much bigger platform than I’ve previously experienced. The response I’ve had since the Games has been like nothing else!
Did you enjoy spending time with athletes from other disciplines and sports during the Games?
Yeah it was great; I hung out with Lizzy [Yarnold], mainly in the dining hall! I went to the Opening Ceremony with the Bobsleigh lads and it was such good fun. I also got to know the curling girls and they’ve invited me up to Scotland to try curling, I’ve suggested we go to the mountains and try out some snowboarding while we’re there! After my event I went to the figure skating with [Team GB figure skater] Jenna McCorkell, and it was brilliant, she was giving me all the behind the scenes information on the skaters, it made the whole thing really exciting.
How has your life changed since Sochi?
There have definitely been some changes; I’m getting recognised more often which is a real novelty! I’ve met loads of awesome people, and been offered lots of great opportunities.
UK Sport encourages athletes to use their experiences to inspire the next generation, is that something you’ve enjoyed doing?
I was aware that lots of children had seen the snowboarding in Sochi and had been inspired because I was getting lots of messages and pictures, but until I actually went to a school, it didn’t really sink in. Seeing their bright eyes, and how interested they were in snowboarding and sport, asking me lots of questions, it was a really wonderful experience. I would definitely like to do more of that. It’s also a great way to keep the next generation aware of snowboarding.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be having a break over summer, and then I’ll be back training in New Zealand, depending on how my shoulder recovers. I’ll be back on the slopes in December, and hopefully do the odd contest, as well as some back country, some split boarding and enjoying myself!