Utah Women Sue To Ski Jump In 2010 Olympics

Thinking this time could be their shot, female ski jumpers had their dreams shattered when the Vancouver Olympic Committee said no to competing in 2010 in B.C. But it didn't end there. The battle heads to court April 20, 2009 with Utah's athletes, who train at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, backing the move.

Attorney Ross Clark will now represent the group of women ski jumpers from Norway, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, and Utah, suing the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee.

"I think it's a very good case," Clark told Salt Lake's KSL-TV. "If you take into account we are providing these facilities for the men to use and denying it to the women, that's discrimination."

Utah's Lindsey Van plans to retire soon but has joined the fight for women's ski jumping in the Olympics. "I want them to have the opportunity I don't have," she said. She was told that women couldn't compete because "there's not enough depth in the field on ski jumping, and we would dilute the medals." The women counter by claiming there are more jumpers than athletes competing in the luge or skeleton.

The lawsuit will be heard at the Vancouver Courthouse with a bright outlook of success. Legal strategizing usually works. For example, women won the right to compete in the marathon this way.