Jessica's Story
Fast Facts
Sport: Cross-Country Skiing
Events: 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon, Freestyle Sprint, 10km Classic, 30km Freestyle, Team Sprint
Olympic History: PeyongChang 2018, Beijing 2022
Highlights: Australia's best individual Olympic cross-country result, 2020 American Birke Skate champion
Coach: Erik Flora
Year Born: 1991
State Born: Western Australia
About Jessica
Jessica Yeaton is a citizen of the world. Born in Perth, she moved to Texas, USA at the age of two and then moved to Dubai, UAE when she was six. Her family then moved to Alaska, USA when she was 12 and the love affair with snow began.
It was a staggering change in temperature and scenery from the Middle East desert to pine mountain forests, but Jessica took it all in her stride and became an avid cross-country skier.
After graduating from high school, she competed at several NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Championships for the Alaska Pacific University ski team in Anchorage and previously with Montana State University in Bozeman.
At the 2014 NCAA Western Regional Championships Jessica finished 6th in 15km freestyle. At the January 2018 US National Cross-Country Ski Champions she placed 4th in the 20km classic.
While at Montana State, Jessica became one of 10 Bobcats to be selected for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.
At her maiden Olympic Games, Jessica’s five events were the most of anyone on the Australian Team.
She was 41st in the 10km freestyle and 12th in the team sprint with Barbara Jezersek, which was Australia’s best cross-country result at an Olympics. Her other results included 50th in the 7.5km + 7.5km skiathlon, 48th in the sprint classic; and 42nd in the 30km mass start classic.
Two years later at the 2020 American Birkebeiner in Minneapolis, the biggest cross-country race in North America, Jessica took first place.
She opened her 2021-22 racing season in Europe in early December at the Continental Cup in Goms, Switzerland, with a solid 8th place in the women's 10km classic. Her time was just 13 seconds outside the top five.
The then 30-year-old also recorded the best Australian result in the freestyle sprint, progressing through to the semi-finals where she finished 10th overall. In the 10km freestyle, Jessica hung onto the lead pack for most of the first half, before crossing the finish line 14th out of 68 competitors.
At Beijing 2022 she recorded Australia's best cross-country individual result for an Australian at the Olympics in our 70-year history, finishing 31st in the 7.5km + 7.5km skiathlon.
After getting off to a great start at the Games in the skiathlon, Jessica went on to get 52nd in the sprint free, 51st in the 10km classic, 16th in the team sprint with Casey Wright and 43rd in the 30km mass start free.
During the off-season, Jessica loves mountain biking, running trails, the beach, swimming, strength training and the occasional Zumba class. She is also a qualified barista.
Jessica has two degrees, one in exercise science from Montana State University and the other in psychology from Alaska Pacific University. She is currently studying towards obtaining a doctorate in physiotherapy.
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