LIVIGNO, Italy — Elizabeth Lemley, a 20-year-old American freestyle skier, celebrated a remarkable victory on Wednesday at the Milan Cortina Games, clinching the gold medal in the Olympic moguls competition. Nicknamed “Lizard,” Lemley put on an impressive performance, earning a score of 82.30 points to secure her spot at the top of the podium. Her teammate Jaelin Kauf followed closely, successfully defending her silver medal from the Beijing 2022 Olympics with a score of 80.77 points. France’s Perrine Laffont, the 2018 champion, took the bronze medal.
After completing her winning run, Lemley watched anxiously as defending champion Jakara Anthony of Australia made her final attempt. The tension built as Anthony wobbled off course, sealing Lemley’s victory. In an emotional moment, Lemley expressed disbelief at her achievement, stating, “I started tearing up in my eyes. I was like, I can’t believe this. I just became Olympic champion.” Celebrations ensued as a friend lifted her onto his shoulders amid cheers from family and friends.
In other Olympic happenings, Lindsey Vonn shared positive news about her recovery following her third surgery on her injured left leg. The American skiing icon updated her followers on Instagram, expressing that although the recovery process is slow, she is optimistic about her progress.
Chloe Kim, a prominent figure in snowboarding, displayed her exceptional skills, qualifying first for the finals of the Olympic halfpipe event just weeks after suffering a shoulder injury. Kim, aiming to be the first snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals, impressed spectators with a flawless run that included a stunning big air leap and a complex 1080-degree spin.
Additional notable performances included Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who earned a silver medal in super-G, finishing just behind Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen, and the Italian team of Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer making history as the first Olympic champions in women’s doubles luge. Italy also celebrated victory in the men’s doubles luge event, with Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner taking gold.
Jens Luraas Oftebro of Norway concluded the day’s events with gold in the Nordic combined normal hill competition, showcasing a thrilling comeback in the cross-country skiing portion after overcoming a time deficit.
Overall, the day was filled with remarkable achievements and emotional victories, punctuating the spirit of competition and resilience in winter sports at the Milan Cortina Games.