EventAt the World Eskimo Indian Olympics in Fairbanks (July 15–18), Alaska Native athletes revived ancient Arctic sports—knuckle hop and two‑foot high kick—that were originally practiced to hone hunting and fishing survival skills. Veteran Iñupiaq athlete Nicole Johnson, 57, returned after setting a world record in 1989, as the multiday event celebrated cultural heritage under coaches Kyle and Rosita Worl.
Traditional Alaska Native games like knuckle hop and two‑foot high kick, long used to build survival skills, have been revived and reintroduced in a modern Arctic sports competition celebrating indigenous culture.
The World Eskimo Indian Olympics in Fairbanks brings Alaska Native athletes back to age‑old Arctic sports, with veteran Nicole Johnson competing again at 57 after her 1989 world record in the two‑foot high kick. The multiday event showcases cultural revival led by coaches like Kyle Worl and highlights Indigenous traditions on a growing national and international stage.
