BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Florida Southern College water ski alumna Valentina Gonzalez represented the Chilean National Team at The World Games 2022. 
 
"It means a lot to represent my country in every competition, but being able to represent Chile at The World Games which are the Olympics for non-Olympics sports is huge for me" stated Gonzalez. "It's an honor to represent Chile and carry my flag around the world." 
 
Gonzalez received bronze for Chile in the women's jump with a 44.2 in the first jump and a 46.6 in the second jump for a third-place finish out of five jumpers. 
 
"It feels amazing to place third in the world for the water ski jump at the world games," said Gonzalez. "I'm really happy to win my first world games medal. Coming to this event I knew that I had some chances to be on the podium. I have worked really hard to get here. This bronze medal means a lot to me and my team. It's the first world games medal for a female athlete in the history of Chile in water skiing."
 
The World Games is an 11-day international multi-sport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee. Held the year following the Summer Olympic Games, The World Games 2022 showcased a New Generation of Global Sports in Birmingham from July 7-17. An anticipated 3,600 elite athletes from over 100 countries competed for gold in more than 30 of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
 
Gonzalez competed in Jump, which is where skiers use two long skis to ride over a jump ramp in an attempt to travel the longest distance. As a skier approaches the ramp, the skier will zigzag behind the boat in a series of cuts to generate speed and angle and will hit the base of the jump ramp at a near-right angle to the boat. The winner is the skier who travels the farthest calculated distance and successfully rides away.