Add a Trick, Lose the Gold

Yesterday was the first time that a woman was to medal in a new Olympic event: snowboard cross. The current world champion, Lindsey Jacobellis of the United States, was the heavy favorite to win the first gold medal.

Jacobellis led the pack throughout the event, including the gold medal run. She knew she had the gold medal won and decided to add a little flair to her race performance. Approximately 65 feet from the end of the race, coming off of one of the last humps in the race, Jacobellis decided to do a jump reminiscent of the jumps she does in snowboarding’s halfpipe event. In the jump she grabbed her board on the way up, but lost her footing on the way down and fell.

While she was recovering from her fall Switzerland’s Tanja Frieden passed by Jacobellis and won the gold medal. Jacobellis had to settle for the silver.

While the silver is nothing to be ashamed of, Jacobellis was certain to win gold. If she had not attempted this trick jump gold would have been around her neck on the medal podium.

Though Jacobellis has said that she is very proud to have won silver, I do wonder if deep down she has any regrets about the races conclusion.