After much dismay in the men’s halfpipe with Shawn White failing to make the podium, American women snowboarders, Kaitlyn Farrington and Kelly Clark, stepped it up to earn two more metals for the United States at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. 24-year-old, Farrington won the gold metal of the women’s halfpipe with 91.75 on her second run to beat out the reigning gold medalist, Torah Bright from the Vancouver Games in 2010, reported Yahoo!.
With Farrington capturing the gold, Australia’s Bright came just behind with 91.50 in her second run to clutch the silver. Gold medalist in the halfpipe in the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, Gold, scored 90.75 to secure the bronze and knockout fellow American, Hannah Teter, who won the gold in the Turin Games in 2006.
With three of the top four scores in the halfpipe, it was a strong finish for the United States despite American, Arielle Gold withdrawing right before the competition due to a wrist injury according to the Bleacher Report.
The United State medal count is now at nine after the two additional metals. America is tied with Russia, slightly behind Canada and the Netherlands at 10. Norway is currently in the lead with 12.