The U.S. Olympic snowboard team became all too familiar with the medals podium in PyeongChang. With those medals, snowboarders also made some history at this year’s winter olympics.
Red Gerard, 17, snatched the first gold medal (and first overall medal) for Team USA in men’s slopestyle with a score of 87.16. In his final run, Gerard landed a backside triple cork 1440, bringing him from last place to gold.
Team USA also took gold in the women’s slopestyle thanks to Jamie Anderson, 27, with a score of 83.00 in her first run, defending her title from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. After winning gold in slopestyle, she went on to take silver in the debut of women’s big air, making her the first female snowboarder to medal twice at a single Olympics.
Shaun White earned his third Olympic gold medal during the men’s halfpipe, which also happened to be the 100th gold medal for the U.S. in Winter Olympic history. After an upsetting fall during his second run, White, 31, scored a 97.75 on his final run.
Chloe Kim became the youngest female, at age 17, to win an Olympic snowboarding medal when she took gold during the women’s halfpipe final. Kim also made Olympic history becoming the first female to land back-to-back 1080s (three full revolutions in the air), giving her a final score of 98.25. Arielle Gold, 21, won the bronze medal with her final score of 85.75.
Kyle Mack, 20, scored silver in the debut of men’s big air, landing his first frontside double cork 1440 with a double tail grab during his second run. After landing a backside triple cork 1440 with a Japan grab during his first run, Mack finished with an overall score of 168.75. Sebastien Toutant from Canada took gold with an overall score of 174.25.
Published By: Paige Parise