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Lindsey Jacobellisand Nick Baumgartner have made history in more ways than one.
At ages 36 and 40, respectively, Jacobellis and Baumgartner are now the oldest medalists in Olympic snowboarding history.
“We came in hot today, we’re really excited about it,” Jacobellis said, perNBC Olympics. “To be able to take this with someone I’ve been on the team with for over a decade — close to two decades now with Baum — it’s incredible to accomplish this together.”
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“These tears are so much better than the ones from the other day,” Baumgartner said after winning gold, via NBC Olympics. “It’s days like that when you’re bummed out and you’re disappointed that make days like today so amazing.”
He continued, “That’s why when you have that adversity, you can’t quit. You keep going because the good things are coming.”
Baumgartner was the first member of Team USA to compete in the snowboard cross final, beating out Canada’s Eliot Grondin in the men’s portion in a close finish. Jacobellis was next, wrapping up gold over Italy’s Michela Moioli with an electric run that ended with her and Baumgartner gleefully embracing at the bottom of the track.
Italy ultimately took home a silver medal for mixed snowboard cross, while Canada earned bronze.
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For Baumgartner, the most rewarding part of Team USA’s win was being able to compete while his 17-year-old son Landon watched.
“This gold medal is awesome, but [Landon]’s still the best thing that I’ve ever done and ever will do,” Baumgartner said, per NBC Olympics. “For him to see me fight through that adversity and do stuff right before he’s about to graduate high school and go on to figure out what he’s going to do in life, is huge.”
To learn more about Team USA, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Winter Olympics, now, and the Paralympics, beginning March 4, on NBC.
source: people.com
