Florida grandparents cheer on Abby Winterberger in Olympic debut
>> WELL, SHE’S NOT EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE, BUT SHE’S ABOUT TO COMPETE FOR OLYMPIC GOLD IN THE WOMEN’S FREESKI HALFPIPE. ABBY WINTERBERGER. HE’S A 15 YEAR-OLD FROM CALIFORNIA, BUT HER GRANDPARENTS LIVE IN BONITA SPRINGS. AND WE’RE SETTING UP A WATCH PARTY FOR TOMORROW. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER JAYLAND AARON. >> TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT. >> ABSOLUTELY FEARLESS. THAT IS HOW PETE AND CAROL WINTERBERGER DESCRIBED THEIR 15 YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER ABBY, FEARLESS, HARD-WORKING KIND AND SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS PERSERVE YEARS FROM A YOUNG AGE. ABBY FELL IN LOVE WITH SKIING BUT WAS A DEDICATED GYMNAST. THE WINTER BURGERS BELIEVE GYMNASTICS WAS HER WAY TO GOLD. WHAT HAPPENS WITH GYMNASTICS? >> IS YOU WILL LEARN WHERE YOUR BODY IS IN THE AIR AND SHE JUST AND SHE JUST STARTED THINK SHE STARTED FLIPPING AND THEN NO MATTER WHERE SHE WENT, YOU HAD TO FLIP OFF FLIPPING. LET ABBY TO FREESTYLE SKIING. SHE HAD WON A NUMBER OF EVENTS AND GOT ENOUGH POINTS. >> TO BE QUALIFIED TO SKI IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. AND ONE OF THE CRITERIA IS THAT WILL PUT YOU IN OLYMPIC TEAMS. IF YOU’RE THE NATIONAL CHAMPION. SO SHE MADE SHE MADE BY BEING THE NATIONAL CHAMPION, NOT BY COMING UP THROUGH THE RANKS. AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS EVER DONE. I ASKED THE PROUD GRANDPARENTS, WHAT PRESSURE ABBY FIELDS. >> BEING THE YOUNGEST FOR TEAM USA. >> YOU KNOW, SHE GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT SHE’S HANDLES IT ALL. IT’S AMAZING FOR US TO WATCH REALLY. >> PETE AND CAROL, HAVE A FINAL MESSAGE FOR ABBY BEFORE SHE TAKES THE SLOPES TOMORROW. HAVE FUN. BE CAREFUL. YOU HAVE BE REAL CAREFUL. >> THE WINTER BURGERS WILL HOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO WATCH ABBY’S OLYMPIC RUN. WE WILL BE BACK EXCLUSIVELY WITH THEM TOMORROW
Bonita Springs grandparents cheer on 15-year-old Abby Winterberger in Olympic debut
Updated: 7:54 PM EST Feb 18, 2026
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Carole and Pete Winterberger are making ready their Bonita Springs residence to look at their 15-year-old granddaughter, Abby, compete in freestyle snowboarding on the Olympics in Milan, celebrating her fearless spirit and dedication. The Winterbergers describe Abby as fearless, hardworking, variety, and somebody who all the time perseveres. Carole, a former trainer, acknowledges the sacrifices Abby has made for her Olympic goals, saying, “I know she is missing some of the high school experience. You don’t get to go to the cafeteria. You don’t get to go to school dances. You don’t get to hang out like high school kids do. She’s definitely giving that up.”The Winterbergers are pleased with the neighborhood rallying behind Abby as she prepares to tackle the slopes. Abby fell in love with snowboarding at a younger age however grew up as a devoted gymnast. Carole defined, “What happens with gymnastics is you will learn where your body is in the air. She just started flipping. She started flipping. And then no matter where she went, she had to flip off.” This ardour for flipping led Abby to freestyle snowboarding. Pete shared that Abby’s success in varied occasions certified her for the nationwide championship, which secured her spot on the Olympic staff. “She had won a number of events and got enough points to be qualified to ski in the national championship. And one of the criteria is that will put you on an Olympic team as if you’re the national champion. So she made it. She made it by being the national champion, not by coming up through the ranks,” he stated. Despite being the youngest on the Olympics, Abby handles the eye properly “Being the youngest at the Olympics, she’s, you know, she gets a lot of attention, but she just handles it all. And it’s amazing for us to watch, really. We’ve learned a lot from,” Pete stated. Abby has additionally needed to be taught to signal autographs on account of her newfound fame. Carole shared, “So she learned to do the signature. And at the going-away party they had for her, people were asking for a signature, but she ran up to me, and said, ‘Mimi, I just signed a baby.'”Before Abby takes the slopes, her grandparents have a ultimate message for her. “Oh, have fun. Be careful,” Carole stated. Pete added, “Yeah, be real careful.”The Winterbergers will host family and friends to look at Abby’s Olympic run, celebrating her achievements and cheering her on from afar.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app in your newest information and alerts on breaking information, climate, sports activities, leisure, and extra in your cellphone or pill. And take a look at the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream information, leisure and unique programming in your TV.
Carole and Pete Winterberger are making ready their Bonita Springs residence to look at their 15-year-old granddaughter, Abby, compete in freestyle snowboarding on the Olympics in Milan, celebrating her fearless spirit and dedication.
The Winterbergers describe Abby as fearless, hardworking, variety, and somebody who all the time perseveres.
Carole, a former trainer, acknowledges the sacrifices Abby has made for her Olympic goals, saying, “I know she is missing some of the high school experience. You don’t get to go to the cafeteria. You don’t get to go to school dances. You don’t get to hang out like high school kids do. She’s definitely giving that up.”
The Winterbergers are pleased with the neighborhood rallying behind Abby as she prepares to tackle the slopes. Abby fell in love with snowboarding at a younger age however grew up as a devoted gymnast.
Carole defined, “What happens with gymnastics is you will learn where your body is in the air. She just started flipping. She started flipping. And then no matter where she went, she had to flip off.” This ardour for flipping led Abby to freestyle snowboarding.
Pete shared that Abby’s success in varied occasions certified her for the nationwide championship, which secured her spot on the Olympic staff.
“She had won a number of events and got enough points to be qualified to ski in the national championship. And one of the criteria is that they will put you on an Olympic team as if you’re the national champion. So she made it. She made it by being the national champion, not by coming up through the ranks,” he stated.
Despite being the youngest on the Olympics, Abby handles the eye properly
“Being the youngest at the Olympics, she’s, you know, she gets a lot of attention, but she just handles it all. And it’s amazing for us to watch, really. We’ve learned a lot from,” Pete stated.
Abby has additionally needed to be taught to signal autographs on account of her newfound fame. Carole shared, “So she learned to do the signature. And at the going-away party they had for her, people were asking for a signature, but she ran up to me, and said, ‘Mimi, I just signed a baby.'”
Before Abby takes the slopes, her grandparents have a ultimate message for her. “Oh, have fun. Be careful,” Carole stated. Pete added, “Yeah, be real careful.”
The Winterbergers will host family and friends to look at Abby’s Olympic run, celebrating her achievements and cheering her on from afar.
DOWNLOADthe free Gulf Coast News appin your newest information and alerts on breaking information, climate, sports activities, leisure, and extra in your cellphone or pill. And take a look at the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream information, leisure and unique programming in your TV.
