Medals were awarded for the first time at the ongoing Olympic Games on Saturday, highlighting the competitive spirit of athletes from Colorado, who have made their mark despite not securing any medals. Three of the four events that took place featured athletes from the Centennial State, and all three Coloradans stood out as the best American competitors in their respective categories.
Seventeen-year-old Ollie Martin from Vail narrowly missed a medal in the men’s snowboard big air event. In a dramatic turn of events, Martin, who initially held a strong third-place position, was edged out when the defending Olympic champion, Su Yiming of China, was penalized for a minor error. Although Yiming was given enough points for difficulty to claim the bronze, Martin’s performance showcased his potential on the Olympic stage.
In ski jumping, Annika Belshaw from Steamboat Springs finished 21st, accumulating 225.4 points over her two jumps. The event was won by Anna Odine Stroem of Norway with a score of 267.3 points. Meanwhile, in the men’s downhill skiing event, Kyle Negomir from Littleton achieved a commendable 10th place, where Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen took home the gold medal.
A notable story from the Games is Lindsey Vonn from Vail, who made headlines with her remarkable comeback efforts after recovering from a ruptured ACL in her left knee. Vonn improved her practice run by shaving off two seconds, setting the stage for a highly anticipated performance in the women’s downhill final set for Sunday.
Additionally, three figure skaters hailing from Colorado Springs were named by USA Figure Skating to represent Team USA in the upcoming events. The pair of Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea will perform in the free skate, while Amber Glenn is set to make her Olympic debut in the women’s free skate, marking a significant milestone as she becomes the oldest U.S. women’s single skater to compete at the Olympics in nearly a century.
As the competition continues, viewers can look forward to a variety of events scheduled for Sunday, including snowboarding, curling, and various skiing disciplines, all available for streaming on Peacock and NBC. The excitement surrounding the Olympics provides a platform for athletes to shine and for fans to rally behind their teams, making these games a celebrated occasion of athleticism and sportsmanship.