Chloe Kim wasted no time in kicking off her gold-medal protection on the Beijng Olympics — and she or he made it look straightforward whereas she was at it.
The American snowboarder, who grew to become an instantaneous sensation on the best way to halfpipe gold on the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, obtained her Beijing Video games began Wednesday in Zhangjiakou, China, by qualifying within the high spot for the ultimate on Thursday (9:25 p.m. ET on Wednesday).
Kim was the second rider down within the first qualifying run and shortly eradicated a lot of the suspense. The 21-year-old delivered a clear trip, touchdown all 5 tips she pulled off and securing a rating of 87.75.
The California native fell on her second run, however her sturdy first trip was nonetheless sufficient to safe the most effective rating among the many 22 snowboarders. The highest 12 superior to the ultimate.
“I used to be actually nervous my first run as a result of we’re on the Olympics, so I used to be so glad I put one down,” Kim stated on the NBC broadcast. “I simply needed to fiddle on my second run, attempting one thing I’ve by no means actually finished earlier than, so I’m stunned I made it that far. However yeah, I’m stoked.”
Kim would be the solely American within the last, although, after Maddie Mastro surprisingly missed out on the ultimate spot by a half level to China’s Qiu Leng.
“I used to be probably not stoked on that [second run],” Mastro stated. “I did my first three hits and so they went nicely and the remainder of the run, I don’t know what occurred. It simply didn’t occur however that’s OK — on to the subsequent.”
Fellow Individuals Tessa Maud (sixteenth) and Zoe Kalapos (seventeenth) additionally got here up brief.
After successful gold in Pyeongchang, Kim took virtually two years off from aggressive snowboarding to heal a damaged ankle (suffered in early 2019) and enroll at Princeton. However she hardly skipped a beat Wednesday, giving herself a robust likelihood to defend her gold medal.
Simply don’t point out the thought of “defending” her title. She doesn’t view it that method. That is simply one other contest, Kim maintained, that she needs to land all of the tips she has in thoughts.
“I really feel like I’m in such a greater place now mentally and bodily as nicely [compared to 2018],” Kim stated. “So simply grateful to have the ability to be out right here and characterize the U.S. I’m so honored to be right here and simply having fun with the second. I don’t know what number of extra Video games I’m going to take action I’m positively simply embracing the expertise as a lot as attainable.”
— With AP
Post a Comment