Olympics: Wescott defends board cross gold medal

By Published On: February 15th, 2010Comments Off on Olympics: Wescott defends board cross gold medal

VANCOUVER (Feb. 15)- American snowboard cross rider Seth Wescott has successfully defended the gold medal he won at the sport’s Olympic debut during the Torino 2006 Games. Although there were times many doubted the site of the snowboard events (Cypress Mountain), which has battled warm temperatures and months of rain, would be able to host the event, the course held up to see an excellent competition today.

Canada’s Mike Robertson claimed the silver medal, while Frenchman Tony Ramoin held on for the bronze. It was the first Olympic medal for both riders.

American Nate Holland (fourth) made the four-man final big got spun around half way down the course, which features jumps, rollers, large banks and tabletops. Holland won his fifth consecutive X Games gold medal two weeks ago, ahead of Wescott in second at the Aspen event.

“The trials didn’t go so well. I knew I would be fighting from the bad gate. I was in fourth. Nate went down; I reeled in Tony, drove his inside. Mike braked, and I went in,” said Westcott who had some support in the stands. “My sister and my mom and my dad are all here. I ran into them on the way into the venue. So much of our competitive lives is [spent] away, and is traveling. To be able to compete in front of them is amazing.”

The Sugarloaf, Maine native brought a special American flag with him for the winner’s spot on the podium.

“It was my late grandfather’s service flag from World War II. I brought it, I boxed it, packed it. I carried it here myself. I told my dad I’m going to need it at the finish line.”

With the win Wescott became only the second person to win back-to-back Olympic Gold medals in a snowboard discipline and the fourth American Olympian to win back-to-back gold medals. He is also the oldest snowboard gold medalist at 33.

The women snowboard cross riders will have their turn at Cypress tomorrow, Feb. 16.

 1  41  1053614 WESCOTT Seth  1976  USA       1000.00
 2  40  1711080 ROBERTSON Mike  1985  CAN       800.00
 3  52  7530521 RAMOIN Tony  1988  FRA       600.00
 4  47  1134900 HOLLAND Nate  1978  USA       500.00
 5  38  1371774 FAGAN Robert  1976  CAN       450.00
 6  42  1089213 GRUENER Lukas  1981  AUT       400.00
 7  39  7050128 FUCHS Mario  1976  AUT       360.00
 8  48  1440547 SPEISER David  1980  GER       320.00
 9  36  7530230 VAULTIER Pierre  1987  FRA       290.00
 10  56  7040096 HAYLER Damon  1976  AUS       260.00
 11  49  1213761 NEILSON Drew  1974  CAN       240.00
 12  46  1407276 BOIVIN Francois  1982  CAN       220.00
 13  53  7510085 CADUFF Fabio  1985  SUI       200.00
 14  62  1398255 POZZOLINI Stefano  1977  ITA       180.00
 15  65  1638912 BOLDYKOV Andrey  1983  RUS       160.00
 16  37  1697985 NOVOTNY Michal  1981  CZE       150.00
 17  33  1044987 PULLIN Alex  1987  AUS       140.00
 18  35  1135870 WATANABE Graham  1982  USA       130.00
 19  50  1313865 DE LE RUE Xavier  1979  FRA       120.00
 20  45  9530138 BAUMGARTNER Nick  1981  USA       110.00
 21  55  1447822 SCHIAVON Alberto  1978  ITA       100.00
 22  61  7290000 RAIMO Federico  1986  ITA       90.00
 23  34  7050145 SCHAIRER Markus  1987  AUT       80.00
 24  60  7560011 ROGELJ Rok  1987  SLO       70.00
 25  43  1516304 DE LE RUE Paul-Henri  1984  FRA       60.00
 26  51  9420018 SIVERTZEN Stian  1989  NOR       50.00
 27  63  9420058 HAVIKHAGEN Joachim  1991  NOR       45.00
 28  59  1434971 JODKO Maciej  1982  POL       40.00
 29  54  1427743 LIGOCKI Mateusz  1982  POL       36.00
 30  58  1332101 MALUSA Simone  1974  ITA       32.00
 31  66  9490102 HERNANDEZ Regino  1991  SPA       28.00
 32  44  9150022 BAKES David  1982  CZE       0.00
 33  57  7200001 SCHAD Konstantin  1987  GER       0.00
 34  67  9020005 MARIN TARROCH Lluis  1988  AND       0.00
Did not finish
 64    1302516 FONT Jordi  1975  SPA       

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About the Author: Eric Williams