As the second day of the Winter Olympics in Beijing is over, Team U.S. has already collected two silver medals. Yesterday, Julia Marino won the first medal for the nation in slopestyle snowboarding. She won a silver medal while Jaelin Kauf got a silver medal in the women’s moguls, today. These victories have put the U.S. on the leaderboard.
Julia Marino started well on the first day of the Beijing Olympics. The 24-year old jumped to the lead with her second-run score of 87.68 but Zoi Sadowski of New Zealand scored 92.88 and clinched the gold medal in the final round. She was the favorite and won her country their first gold medal. Tess Coady of Australia, won the bronze with a score of 84.15.
Marino, a Westport, Connecticut native won the first medal for Team U.S.A. as well as for herself. This is her second stint at the Winter Olympics. In 2018, she had finished 11th in slopestyle and was one position higher in big air. She created a snowpark in her backyard to continue her training during Covid-19.
Jaelin Kauf is the first American woman to win a medal in the moguls since 2014. Finishing second, she won a silver medal for the nation. She is the daughter of two professional skiers and made her parents and the nation proud with her victory. The 25-year old scored 80.28 and earned her first medal at Genting Snow Park.
Watch it 🔙
– Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 6, 2022
Julia Marino’s silver send gave #TeamUSA its first medal of the 2022 #WinterOlympics. pic.twitter.com/2eF2GWukF7
The Winter Olympics in Beijing is different from earlier ones not only due to the pandemic but also due to a boycott by several nations around the world. They are protesting against the treatment of the Uighurs in China. Although the Chinese administration has denied the allegations of mistreatment of the muslim minority, it has not allowed the UN to send a team to the region.
