Some people say 30 is the new 20. Well, not in the world of Olympic sponsorships.
Keri Herman can certainly attest to that. The 31-year-old slopestyle skier had to fund her trip to the Sochi Olympics without a sponsorship. Herman said it was because of her age, according to the Denver Post.
“I can't get a sponsor. I can't get an agent. I've been told – over and over – I'm too old. Everyone says they don't care about the Olympics and they want to base their team around younger athletes,” she explained. “It's so frustrating for me because I can win. I can do everything that I should be doing as a pro and I'm struggling. It's so hurtful and it's so hard. I need to find another job.”
How bad did things get? Well, Herman apparently had to bum 15-year-old teammate Maggie Voisin’s pants and broken ski boots just to compete. Herman didn’t want anyone feeling badly for her.
“This isn't about sponsors though,” she said. “I'm here because I absolutely love skiing. Every day I think to myself, 'Wow, this is so great. I am so lucky.' Sure I need a second job to support myself but I'm here because I love skiing and I could not think of any other way to be happier.”
Herman’s run ended with a 10th-place finish after qualifying for the women’s skiing slopestyle.
