It finally happened! Team USA swept an event! Joss Christensen, Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper medaled in the slopestyle skiing event.
“I am shocked,” Christensen said. “I am stoked to be up here with my friends. America, we did it.”
“It’s crazy,” Goepper said. “I think it’s going to give the U.S. a lot more confidence and it’s going to get a lot of people really excited.”
America needed this boost and are now in second place behind Norway in medal standings with 12 (four gold, two silver and six bronze). The four golds were won in the mountains at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.
Christensen barely made it on the US team. He was named to the last spot over former world champion Tom Wallisch, but his story is even more impressive on the personal side.
He lost his father in August and learned about it while he was in New Zealand. It hit him hard, but just encouraged him even more. He has battled many injuries and his father was always there for him.
“I hope I made my father proud,” he said. “Through all the injuries I’ve had, he’s always supported me and never said stop. I Hope he’s looking down and smiling. Did it for him.”
America swept the podium in men’s figure skating in 1956 and men’s halfpipe snowboarding in 2002. So far in 2014 The Netherlands have dominated speed skating and swept the podium many times.
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