One of freestyle skier Jay Riccomini91裸聊视频檚 priceless life moments came this year in Switzerland, when he was recognized on the podium for a third-place finish in a major global competition.

It was a breakthrough performance 91裸聊视频� and the announcer used his correct pronouns.

91裸聊视频淚 just thought, 91裸聊视频業t took some time to get there. But we did it,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said.

On July 20, 2021, Riccomini, then 17, announced on social media that he was a gay transgender man who would from then on use the pronouns he and him. 91裸聊视频淚 want the world to know who I am and who I91裸聊视频檓 meant to be so I can pursue it openly,91裸聊视频� he wrote.

Now 20, he is on top of the world: In January, he placed third at a World Cup slopestyle competition, an event that features skiers spinning and flipping down a mountain slope filled with rails, bumps and jumps. He also finished third in two other events last season, giving him a third-place finish in the overall slopestyle standings. He was recently promoted to the U.S. Freeski pro team. And he91裸聊视频檚 being mentioned as an Olympic hopeful for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

As part of his transition, Riccomini underwent top surgery more than a year ago to create a masculine appearance. But he has decided to put off taking testosterone until his career is over, to stay in compliance with the regulations. He still competes in women91裸聊视频檚 events, and will continue to do so if he makes the Team USA roster for the Olympics.

Riccomini says he has received nothing but support from the freestyle skiing world since he announced he was trans.

91裸聊视频淚 thought I was going to have to give up my hopes and dreams,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淧eople rose above my expectations, for sure.91裸聊视频�

But he also acknowledges that the road to becoming Jay Riccomini was neither smooth nor straightforward.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not a linear line. It91裸聊视频檚 a freaking roller coaster through it all,91裸聊视频� he told The Associated Press recently, in one of his first interviews with a national news outlet.

SILENCE, SECRECY AND DEPRESSION

From a young age, even before he realized what it was, Riccomini began experiencing gender dysphoria, when a person91裸聊视频檚 gender identity doesn91裸聊视频檛 match their sex assigned at birth. But he kept it secret.

The mountains provided both a refuge and an escape. Growing up in Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, he spent many winter weekends with his brother at Tussey Mountain, which featured a terrain park loaded with jumps and rails.

On numerous occasions, his family also traveled to Copper Mountain, Colorado, where coaches at Woodward, a training ground for kids interested in action sports, recognized his talent.

But not being able to share his secret weighed heavily on him, and ultimately led to such a severe depression that even the mountains couldn91裸聊视频檛 save him. His parents didn91裸聊视频檛 know the depths of his struggles, either.

91裸聊视频淚 just wanted Jay to be happy, and Jay was unhappy for so many years,91裸聊视频� said his mother, Andrea. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 been the hardest part for me, that he was unhappy for so long.91裸聊视频�

Rock bottom came at 17, while Riccomini attended a winter sports school in Park City, Utah. He missed classes. His grades suffered. And in perhaps the most worrisome sign that something was wrong, he was often absent from the terrain park, one of his favorite spots.

91裸聊视频淲hen people saw that I wasn91裸聊视频檛 there, they91裸聊视频檙e like, 91裸聊视频榃here are you?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Riccomini recounted. 91裸聊视频淚 was depressed. I wasn91裸聊视频檛 eating. It wasn91裸聊视频檛 good.91裸聊视频�

Even when he had a memorable moment 91裸聊视频� finishing 18th in his World Cup debut in Aspen in March 2021 91裸聊视频� he wasn91裸聊视频檛 able to truly celebrate. It was under his old name. Every time someone referred to him as 91裸聊视频渉er,91裸聊视频� it gave him anxiety.

91裸聊视频淚 just felt like I was going to throw up,91裸聊视频� he said.

FINALLY BECOMING JAY

He decided to take action.

First, he told a close friend he was trans. Then, he changed his pronouns on his Instagram bio to 91裸聊视频渢hey/them91裸聊视频� and told more teammates and friends. Not long afterward, while out skiing, he came up with a new name.

91裸聊视频淚 was like, 91裸聊视频楽hould I call myself Jake or Jack or Ace?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频滻 thought, 91裸聊视频楯ay 91裸聊视频� Jay is perfect.91裸聊视频� It91裸聊视频檚 just easy91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� and it happened to echo his father91裸聊视频檚 middle initial, J.

Teammate Colby Stevenson began calling him 91裸聊视频淛ay-Bird.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 like that,91裸聊视频� Riccomini said. 91裸聊视频淚 really like that.91裸聊视频�

With his name in place, Riccomini went public on Instagram, writing that he was 91裸聊视频渙ver constantly feeling trapped in my own body.91裸聊视频�

The announcement set him free, transforming his anxiety into hope and happiness.

91裸聊视频淪eeing him happy,91裸聊视频� his mom said, 91裸聊视频渋s priceless.91裸聊视频�

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION

At a World Cup event in February 2023, the International Ski Federation used Jay Riccomini91裸聊视频檚 new name in its results for the first time.

91裸聊视频淚t is our duty to do everything within our reach to ensure he feels included and respected in our competitions,91裸聊视频� the federation91裸聊视频檚 integrity director, Sarah Fussek, said in a written statement to AP. 91裸聊视频淎s the institution that represents snow sports around the whole world, for all, we have a moral obligation to do so.91裸聊视频�

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has also expressed its support.

91裸聊视频淗is dedication to the sport has resulted in a number of podiums at a young age,91裸聊视频� Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of USSS, said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淲e know that he will continue his success on the world stage throughout the upcoming years.91裸聊视频�

LEADING THE WAY FOR OTHERS

Riccomini91裸聊视频檚 mission now is to open doors for other transgender athletes and to inspire them the way he has been motivated by others.

91裸聊视频淭his young athlete has fought for and has earned with his results the right to be seen,91裸聊视频� said Rook Campbell, a trans athlete and professor in areas of advertising, sports, globalization and media at the University of Southern California. 91裸聊视频淰isibility is powerful.91裸聊视频�

As difficult as his own journey has been, Riccomini knows it is even harder for transgender women. After swimmer Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, World Aquatics effectively banned transgender women from competing in women91裸聊视频檚 events. World Athletics, the governing body for track and field, has done the same.

Transgender girls are also banned from competing in girls sports at the high school level in numerous Republican-led U.S. states, where some lawmakers argue that they have an unfair strength advantage over cisgender girls. People on both sides point to limited research to back their opinions.

Thomas is someone Riccomini looks up to 91裸聊视频� he even wrote a paper about her experience for a civics class.

91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 imagine the toll taken on her mental health,91裸聊视频� Riccomini said. 91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 just amazing.91裸聊视频�

Campbell said it is sometimes easier for transgender men to speak out and gain acceptance than it is for transgender women. He said he thinks it91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频済reat to use that privilege.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 just wish it was broader,91裸聊视频� he said.

As happy as he is, Riccomini realizes his transition won91裸聊视频檛 be fully complete until he can take testosterone, something he knows will help ease his gender dysphoria. But for now, just being recognized publicly as Jay is good enough.

91裸聊视频淲hen people call me 91裸聊视频榟e,91裸聊视频� I get this warm feeling in my stomach,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭his overwhelming wave of happiness that flows through my body, knowing everyone sees me now for who I am.91裸聊视频�

Pat Graham, The Associated Press