Bouncing between NCAA and World Cup, Katie Hensien makes Olympic debut

If there is one lesson Katie Hensien knows, it’s hard work pays off. 

Early in the 2021-22 World Cup season, Hensien faced uncertainty and upset when a small bump and accompanying ‘pop’ sent her home for knee surgery in the Olympic-qualifying year. Five months later, the 22-year-old is headed to Beijing. 

Hensien was riding her momentum after a career-best 2020-21 season. After four inconsistent World Cup seasons trying to battle her way into the points, Hensien finally landed her first top-30 result in Semmering last December. The following weekend, she finished 18th place in Flachau. 

“It was a really good experience just to make that leap and get those points, and to know that not my perfect skiing is still up there with the best in the world,” said Hensien. “Finding those details and being more consistent can get me higher up and that’s what kept me going and really pushed my season to become what it was.”

Born in Redmond, Wash., but spending her late teenage years in Park City with Rowmark Ski Academy, Hensien has spent her career focused on tech events. While skiing both slalom and GS on the collegiate circuit, she has solely skied slalom on the World Cup since her debut in 2017 until last season. 

Slalom, as Hensien shared, is an unpredictable event. It’s important for her to be on her line while finding her fastest, and cleanest, skiing. 

“For me I just know I can’t hold back,” said Hensien. “I think being comfortable with the uncomfortable feeling of being on the edge is super key for me in, honestly, any event, and trusting that my abilities and technique will pull it off.” 

In addition to being a full-time student at the University of Denver (DU), Hensien was able to maximize her skiing progression while balancing a fully-remote course load in Europe last season. She noticed an exponential shift in her skiing as she spent more time in variable terrain, challenging conditions, and immersed in a high level of competition. 

“I think being able to spend more time in Europe and in those snow conditions, and scoring a top 10 at a Europa Cup, I was determined to make a second run in a World Cup,” said Hensien. “I definitely took that momentum of feeling strong on the Europa Cup and then going into the World Cup being able to do the same.” 

On the rise

After two top-30 slalom finishes last season, Hensien transitioned her tech focus to GS over the summer in hopes of bridging the gap to be a two-event World Cup skier. She had made significant progress in the event and was granted her first GS start after teammate Storm Klomhaus tore her ACL prior to Soelden. Then, a week before Soelden, Hensien felt a pop and immediate pain in her knee — she instantly knew something was wrong. 

“It was tough in the moment and realizing what I would be missing, but it could have been way worse,” shared Hensien. “It’s not the best timing, it’s not the worst timing, but it’s not the worst injury and I’m thankful for that.”

Fortunately a prompt MRI in Austria indicated a cartilage tear in her meniscus and she quickly flew home to undergo a minor surgery at the Steadman Clinic less than a week later. The cartilage was removed and set her on a quick four-week recovery back to snow, just in time to return to Killington after missing the first three World Cup races. 

Hensien struggled to regain her 2020-21 season momentum once returning to snow. After not qualifying for a second run in Killington, she returned to Europe and the Europa Cup circuit where she immediately found renewed confidence in a top-10 finish. Despite additional shortcomings in the following World Cup races, Hensien finally landed her spot back in the points, 28th-place in Kranjska Gora.

“There is definitely a bit more pressure with the Olympics, everyone is pushing to qualify,” said Hensien. “It’s tough some days, not every day is going to be your day. At the end of the day, it’s just knowing it’s a long season ahead and to keep working hard and putting your head down.”

The DU senior’s hard work paid off as one of 12 women picked to compete for the 2022 Olympics. The selection allowed her to realize a lifelong dream, all while balancing her final collegiate year before graduation this summer. 

“Im still processing everything,” wrote Hensien on her Instagram. “Looking back at all the ups and downs.The hard work I’ve been putting in every day to get to this moment.” 

Before flying to China, Hensien joined her collegiate team for the Utah and Montana State Invitationals where she picked up two GS wins and four consecutive race podiums. Hensien’s Olympic run will take place in the slalom on Feb. 9 and is an alternate for GS.