SOCH, Russia– Maddie Bowman became the first-ever women’s Olympic halfpipe skiing champion Thursday, taking gold in the sport’s debut at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.
“I feel like this isn’t real. I think I was pretty shocked when it happened, and happy and excited and all of the emotions. This is pretty surreal. This doesn’t happen every day. It only happens every four years and this is the first time it’s ever happened for our sport. It’s pretty crazy,”said Bowman.
All four Team USA athletes advanced to the final, and Brita Sigourney went on to finish sixth after crashing hard during her first run.
Annalisa Drew put down a solid first run, which included one of the night’s only 1080s. She fell during her second run while attempting a 1260 and finished ninth.
“I’m not disappointed at all. I didn’t get the best scores, but I skied as well as I could have tonight and I’m super excited about that. I’m just happy to be here and just happy to make it into finals, to be honest. I did that and I skied my best in my first run. In the second run I went into it with nothing to lose, thinking why not try a 12, and I happened to clip the deck. It didn’t go the way I planned but I’m still super excited about it,” said Drew.
Angeli VanLaanen finished in 11th place.
Marie Martinod of France earned silver in the historic final and Ayana Onozuka of Japan took bronze.
“I feel like this isn’t real. I think I was pretty shocked when it happened, and happy and excited and all of the emotions. This is pretty surreal. This doesn’t happen every day. It only happens every four years and this is the first time it’s ever happened for our sport. It’s pretty crazy,”said Bowman.
All four Team USA athletes advanced to the final, and Brita Sigourney went on to finish sixth after crashing hard during her first run.
Annalisa Drew put down a solid first run, which included one of the night’s only 1080s. She fell during her second run while attempting a 1260 and finished ninth.
“I’m not disappointed at all. I didn’t get the best scores, but I skied as well as I could have tonight and I’m super excited about that. I’m just happy to be here and just happy to make it into finals, to be honest. I did that and I skied my best in my first run. In the second run I went into it with nothing to lose, thinking why not try a 12, and I happened to clip the deck. It didn’t go the way I planned but I’m still super excited about it,” said Drew.
Angeli VanLaanen finished in 11th place.
Marie Martinod of France earned silver in the historic final and Ayana Onozuka of Japan took bronze.
