BEIJING: US ski celebrity Mikaela Shiffrin’s Beijing Olympics threatened to become a wintry weather nightmare however there used to be long-awaited redemption for snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis as she gained Group USA’s first gold of the Video games the day gone by. Six gold medals have been up for grabs at the 5th day of complete pageant within the Chinese language capital, however Shiffrin’s wait is going on in her faltering pursuit of a profession 3rd Olympic gold in alpine snowboarding.
The 26-year-old made a surprise early go out from the large slalom on Monday and with the drive on, suffered the similar destiny within the slalom, with rival Petra Vlhova of Slovakia taking complete merit. Vlhova produced a surprising 2d leg to clock a mixed overall of 1min 44.98sec over the 2 runs and edge Austria’s reigning global champion Katharina Liensberger into silver via eight-hundredths of a 2d.
In stark distinction, Shiffrin slid broad after only a handful of gates sooner than snowboarding out within the first leg, then plonked herself down at the snow, head in palms. The American stated she felt “lovely terrible”, even supposing added: “However it gained’t really feel terrible ceaselessly. I simply really feel lovely low at the moment.” Shiffrin will compete in 3 extra particular person occasions in Beijing, with the super-G on Friday, adopted via the downhill on Tuesday and alpine mixed on February 17.
Snowboard pass rider Jacobellis stated her notorious fall that value her the Olympic identify in 2006 had “stored her hungry” as she after all were given the USA at the gold-medal board. Jacobellis used to be with ease within the lead within the ultimate on the 2006 Turin Olympics when she tried to “taste out” her closing leap — and fell simply sooner than the end line, coming 2d. “(Other people) can stay speaking about (2006) all they would like as it in reality formed me into the person that I’m and stored me hungry and in reality helped me stay combating within the recreation,” stated the 36-year-old.
Any other American snowboarder, Chloe Kim, certified best within the halfpipe after a scintillating first run however then suffered a fall in her 2d. Together with Shiffrin, the 21-year-old Kim — who made international headlines when she gained snowboard gold as a teen on the 2018 Pyeongchang Video games — is without doubt one of the stars to look at at this Olympics.
“Smartly, I fell so it wasn’t nice,” she stated of her failed 2d run which left her sprawled on her abdomen as she tried to land from a trick. She stated her first run had long gone so neatly “that truthfully for the second one I simply sought after to check out a unique line, I’ve by no means practiced it sooner than so I’m no longer shocked that I fell. “However simply having such a lot a laugh out right here… I will be able to’t ask for anything else extra, simply taking part in the journey.”
‘Worry of unexpected’
Additionally in snowboard motion, however on the different finish of his profession to Kim, used to be 35-year-old Shaun White. The 3-time Olympic champion — who’s two times the age of a few of his opponents — will retire from pageant after Beijing and is made up our minds to move out with a bang. However he appeared much more likely to move out in a whimper when he fell in his first run within the halfpipe, sooner than pulling out a some distance higher 2d effort to succeed in the overall in an in the long run comfy fourth position. White admitted he were nervous. “I knew I may do it, I used to be identical to ‘what if?’ What if I slip or one thing occurs—I hit a snow chew and it’s over. That’s the large worry, the unexpected,” stated the American.
In freestyle snowboarding, Birk Ruud loved a dominant victory in Giant Air — and used to be so comfy that he carried out his 3rd leap conserving the Norwegian flag. He additionally wore a gold bracelet on his left wrist in tribute to his father, who died of most cancers closing April. “I were given this from my father sooner than he passed on to the great beyond,” stated Ruud. “I sought after to mention ‘thanks’ to him, he’s with me,” he added, touching the bracelet.
One by one, the World Olympic Committee stated the medals rite for the staff determine skating has been not on time via a felony factor. The Russian staff gained the gold medal with the USA taking silver and Japan bronze, however the rite used to be got rid of from its scheduled slot on Tuesday. IOC spokesman Mark Adams cited a “felony session” with the game’s governing frame, the World Skating Union, with out giving additional main points. – AFP