Snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis has made her country proud as she has bagged United States’ first gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Lindsey also becomes the oldest American woman to secure a Winter Olympics gold medal.
Her victory made up for her tragic loss at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino. She celebrated early and tumbled out as she neared the finish line in that competition. Lindsey finished second after losing her lead to Tanja Frieden of Switzerland. She was also not successful in earning medals at the Pyeongchang, Sochi, and the Vancouver Olympics.
Lindsey stated that she does not see the gold medal as a form of retribution for Torino. She had never considered it in that way. She said that it had never occurred to her. She only wanted to come to this Olympics to win. It would have been a great, sweet gesture, but she believes that focusing on the prospect of redemption would have distracted her from the goal at hand, and that’s not why she compete.
Talking about the 2006 incident she said that the people around you always talk about the particular incident but what matters is who you really are. She admitted that it kept her hungry and motivated her to compete in this sport. When asked what lesson she would offer to younger racers about past indiscretions, she said that they don’t define you. You’re a winner, especially if you’ve made it this far. Also, consider what you’ve learned from the event and how you can apply it later in life.
Furthermore, four riders fight their way down a twisty course, banging and colliding as they fly over jumps in snowboard cross. Lindsey Jacobellis started the race with good enthusiasm and never looked back. She crossed the finish line before Trespeuch, Odine, and Belle Brockhoff of Australia. Lindsey is 9 years older than Tespeuch and 12 years older than bronze medalist Odine.
