At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the U.S. teams have come to a slow but steady start. Sitting in 10th place, the U.S has a total of 1 gold medal, four silver medals, and 1 bronze medal. In the category of women’s snowboard cross, American athlete Lindsey Jacobellis took home the gold. In the categories of men’s super-G, team event, women’s moguls, and women’s snowboard slopestyle, the U.S. has won silver medals. Lastly, in the category of women’s sprint free, athlete Jessie Diggins secured a bronze medal.

In men’s super-G, American athlete Ryan Cochran-Siegle claimed a silver medal with an impressive athletic performance, skying a quick and controlled run that was only four hundredths of a second off of the gold medal-winning time, 1:19.94. The gold medal, claimed by Austrian Matthias Mayer, was a historic feat, pushing Mayer to become the first man to win an Alpine skiing gold medal at three consecutive Olympic Games. After winning gold in downhill in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and now in Beijing, Mayer’s record breaking feats demand respect and admiration from his fellow peers.

“He is one of the best. Sure Herman [Maier] won more races [in his career] but Matthias is up there with him. He is a superstar now. But he’s a good guy, still staying on the ground,” said Austria’s head men’s coach, Sepp Brunner.

In the team event, figure skating partners Madison Chock and Evan Bates claimed a silver medal with a tantalizing performance on the ice. Chock and Bates broke U.S. records, claiming the best American performance in the history of the event, as the American teams took home bronze medals in both 2014 and 2018. With technical prowess and emotional range, Chock and Bates have managed to inspire American youth all over the country.

“[We knew] that we have an opportunity to inspire the next generation of American skaters, with what we do here. Because let’s be honest – [there are] so many new eyes, so many new viewers to our sport at this event. That’s what makes it so unique,” said Evan Bates.

In the event of women’s moguls, Vail-born Jaelin Kauf claimed a silver medal for the U.S. Skiing with a score of 80.28 in the medal round, Kauf came just short of gold medal winner Australian Jakara Anthony, who scored a 83.09. Kauf continues to prove herself in the world of skiing, as is the fastest woman on the moguls World Cup circuit, according to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team.

Lastly, in the event of women’s snowboarding slopestyle, American snowboarder Julia Marino claimed a silver medal with an impressive run. After falling on both her first and third attempts, Marino redeemed herself with a near perfect second run, scoring 87.68 points.

“I’m feeling so many emotions. Right now it’s pure excitement and happiness. It was a great day,” said Marino after competing. “The weather was perfect. The course was perfect. The girls were riding well. I couldn’t have asked for a better finals. It’s exactly what it should be like.”

The gold medal winner, New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, made history in the event as New Zealand’s first Winter Games gold medal.

In summary, the American teams continue to make us proud in the Beijing 2022 Winter Games and will hopefully continue to outperform as they have done in the past.

Photo courtesy of COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG