Team USA Wins Its First Medal of Beijing Olympics—A Snowboarding Silver

Author: Editors Desk Source: WSJ:

February 6, 2022 at 07:11

Julia Marino won silver in the women’s slopestyle at the Beijing Games. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS

Julia Marino finished second in snowboard slopestyle. It was the first time the U.S. hasn’t won a gold medal in the event.

When all else is in doubt, Americans will win a medal in snowboard slopestyle. But for the first time in the event’s Olympic history, it wasn’t gold.

Julia Marino of the U.S. threw down a strong second run in the event on Sunday morning in Beijing and held on to snag the silver, Team USA’s first medal overall of the Beijing Winter Games.

Marino had the lead before the final run of the last competitor, but New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott put down a dominant last run to grab the gold with a score of 92.88. Her win marked New Zealand’s first-ever gold in the Winter Olympics.

Marino, who is 24 years old and from Westport, Conn., scored an 87.68 on her second run.

Before Sunday, Americans had won every possible Olympic gold in snowboard slopestyle, the event that has its roots in action sports like skateboarding and BMX biking. Slopestyle, now in its third Olympic Games, is an event in which judges grade snowboarders’ tricks down a run of rails and jumps.

Marino performs a trick during the final of the women’s slopestyle at the Beijing Games. PHOTO: CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES — Marino performs a trick during the final of the women’s slopestyle at the Beijing Games.
PHOTO: CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES

American Jamie Anderson won gold in the women’s event in 2014 and 2018. Anderson made Sunday’s final but finished ninth after struggling on several tricks. American Hailey Langland finished 11th.

Australia’s Tess Coady won bronze.

The U.S. has won both golds in the men’s snowboard slopestyle: Sage Kotsenburg in 2014 and Red Gerard in 2018.

This year’s men’s snowboard slopestyle qualifying was set to take place Sunday in Beijing, with the finals on Monday. Gerard is back to defend his gold.

Marino competed at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, finishing 11th in the slopestyle competition and 10th in big air. At age 18 she became the first woman to land a double trick in a snowboard slopestyle competition, landing two variations on a double flip.