WEST BEND, Wis. — West Bend native Courtney Rummel is well on her way to making a name for herself on the world stage.
As she gears up to make her Olympic debut in snowboarding, Courtney’s parents tell TMJ4 News that her meteoric rise to Team USA is thanks, in large part, to the support from her community.
“It actually means everything. Delta has been there before she was an Olympian. They will be there after she's an Olympian. They believed in her when we just kind of came to them with this, ‘Hey, this is what the goal is, is there any way that you can support us?’ and without hesitation, it was yes,” said Kimberly Rummel. “The community has completely stepped up in terms like nothing I had ever anticipated. You can't drive anywhere without seeing the signs. I mean, it's just absolutely incredible.”
“This is such a proud moment for West Bend, for West Bend West High School. Because we know how hard it is. There's not too many Olympians and to know that one of them walked the halls of the school building, it’s just a tremendous honor for us,” said Ralph Schlass, West Bend West High School Principal.
Courtney’s Olympic dreams began by chance.
The Rummel family are big winter sports people, with her mother starting a “Learn to Ski and Snowboard” class for local kids.
As her older brother Cole starting winning medals in competitions, Courtney decided she was tired of watching him on the sidelines and wanted to give it a go. From that moment on, the sky’s been the limit.
“We're so proud. It's hard to even put into words. You know, when she was named to the U.S. team when she was just an eighth grader at age 14, they were talking to us that they thought that she had Olympic potential, but they were talking about the 2026 Olympics in Italy. They weren't talking about these. So, for her to make these in just four years, it's come so fast; it's hard to even wrap your head around,” said John Rummel.
As Courtney began to rack up victories, the costs associated with becoming an elite athlete started to pile up. That’s when local business and family friends Delta Defense knew they wanted to help.
“It’s so exciting to me as a parent, who also has two West Bend West seniors to see Courtney at this level, and to see our community rally around her and to have Delta be instrumental and supporting putting some gas in the gas tank, if you will, on her journey to become an Olympian,” said Cynthia Zimmer.
As she travels the world on her quest for Olympic gold, Courtney’s family, friends and community say they’ll support her from home, every step of the way.
Rummel will take part in the 2022 Winter Olympics preliminary heats of slopestyle snowboarding Friday night at 9 p.m. local time.
Photos from her watch party Friday night:
