Australian cross-country skier Jessica Yeaton trained with bears in Alaska

Australian cross-country skier Jessica Yeaton has taken more risks than other athletes on her way to the Beijing 2022 Olympics, encountering wildlife such as bears and moose while training in the forests of Alaska.

After spending her childhood in the warmer climates of Perth, Texas, and Dubai, Jessica Yeaton moved to Alaska at the age of 12 and fell in love with snow and skiing, despite the risk of falling for some large animals while training.

“Two years ago I was training, riding a bike with my friend and we came across two Grizzly bears. I thought it was the end, but if you were in Alaska, you would tell this story to other athletes and they would say: Oh Yes, me too!”, said Jessica Yeaton.

She added that she also encountered moose while training on the ski slopes in Alaska, but that did not make her even consider moving elsewhere.

“I prefer to train in places where I can be alone”, explained the Australian cross-country skier.

Jessica Yeaton is an Australian cross-country skier who competes internationally. She competed for Australia at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 in Lahti, Finland.