Greenland Athlete Petra Amossen Breaks World Record

Petra Amossen made history Tuesday when she soared 2.03 metres in the air during the two-foot high kick competition at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse. The 21-year-old Greenlandic athlete broke the previous world record of 1.96 metres set by Alaskan Nicole Johnston.

"Sometimes you just witness people make history," said 19-year-old competitor David Audlakiak from Arctic Bay as he watched Amossen receive her gold medal.

The two-foot high kick is one of 10 traditional Arctic sports featured at the games. Athletes must jump, touch a hanging target with both feet, and land solidly on both feet without falling.

The competition tests incredible power and endurance. "I have only been doing this for about a year and now I won a silver medal, so I'm pretty proud," said Breton McNeil of Iqaluit, who jumped 2.13 metres on Wednesday.

Why This Inspires

The Arctic Winter Games brings together approximately 2,000 athletes from eight circumpolar regions including Nunavut, Nunavik, Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, northern Alberta, Greenland, and the Sápmi region of Scandinavia. These traditional Indigenous sports have been passed down through generations as training tools for hunters who needed exceptional strength and agility to survive in Arctic conditions.

Athletes competed across multiple categories throughout the week. Nunavut's Danica Taylor from Rankin Inlet earned fourth place with a 1.82-metre jump, while Joseph Nowkawalk of Inukjuak representing Nunavik made an impressive 2.23-metre leap in the male category.

The games continue through Saturday with other traditional Arctic sports including knuckle hop, Alaska high kick, and one-foot high kick. These ancient competitions are keeping Indigenous culture alive while inspiring the next generation of athletes.

Amossen's record-breaking jump proves that age is just a number when you combine traditional knowledge with dedication and heart.