This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/18/pierre-vaultier-snowboard-cross-gold-deibold

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
France's Vaultier jumps to snowboard cross gold as Deibold takes US bronze France's Vaultier jumps to snowboard cross gold as Deibold takes US bronze
(6 months later)
The French snowboarder Pierre Vaultier won Olympic gold in the snowboard cross on Tuesday, despite chaos caused by rain-soaked conditions and his having recently suffered a knee injury that usually takes months to heal.The French snowboarder Pierre Vaultier won Olympic gold in the snowboard cross on Tuesday, despite chaos caused by rain-soaked conditions and his having recently suffered a knee injury that usually takes months to heal.
Vaultier took the top spot on the podium in Sochi after edging ahead of his 22-year-old Russian rival, Nikolay Olyunin, in the last two jumps. The event had been postponed on Monday because of heavy fog, which persisted into the finals. Vaultier took the top spot on the podium in Sochi after edging ahead of his 22-year-old Russian rival, Nikolay Olyunin, in the last two jumps. The event had been postponed on Monday because of heavy fog, which persisted into the finals.
Victory for Vaultier came after the early departure of some of the favourites, washed away by bad luck, bad decisions – or both – on a course that deteriorated into a slushy, soggy snowball.Victory for Vaultier came after the early departure of some of the favourites, washed away by bad luck, bad decisions – or both – on a course that deteriorated into a slushy, soggy snowball.
“I took off on the last jump and I don’t think I’ve landed yet,” said Vaultier, who was racing with a brace on his right knee after damaging a cruciate ligament two months ago. “I saw Olyunin on TV and thought, ‘This is going to be difficult’ … I was not thinking about becoming Olympic champion, I just wanted to show my full potential.” “I took off on the last jump and I don’t think I’ve landed yet,” said Vaultier, who was racing with a brace on his right knee after damaging a cruciate ligament two months ago. “I saw Olyunin on TV and thought, ‘This is going to be difficult’ … I was not thinking about becoming Olympic champion, I just wanted to show my full potential.”
Olyunin won a popular silver and said he was proud to be a pioneer for Russian board cross racers. “Vaultier is the embodiment of snowboard cross and deserved the gold medal,” he said. Olyunin won a popular silver and said he was proud to be a pioneer for Russian board cross racers. “Vaultier is the embodiment of snowboard cross and deserved the gold medal,” he said.
Alex Deibold, a wax technician for the US team in Vancouver four years ago, took a surprise bronze, having edged team-mate Trevor Jacob in a photo-finish in the semis.Alex Deibold, a wax technician for the US team in Vancouver four years ago, took a surprise bronze, having edged team-mate Trevor Jacob in a photo-finish in the semis.
Action shotsAction shots
Miserable weatherMiserable weather
After being lifted into the air by his better-known American team-mates at the finish, Deibold said the miserable weather might have contributed to his third place.After being lifted into the air by his better-known American team-mates at the finish, Deibold said the miserable weather might have contributed to his third place.
“I’ve always excelled in adverse conditions, you just have to embrace what mother nature throws at you,” the 27-year-old said. “In US snowboard, we have an A and a B team, and today I’ve finally made it on to the A team after 10 years.”“I’ve always excelled in adverse conditions, you just have to embrace what mother nature throws at you,” the 27-year-old said. “In US snowboard, we have an A and a B team, and today I’ve finally made it on to the A team after 10 years.”
Stripped of the seeding heats after Monday’s postponement, the event still maintained its reputation for unpredictability. Australia’s world champion, Alex “Chumpy” Pullin, crashed out in the quarter-finals and was soon joined at the exit by Austria’s former world champion Markus Schairer.Stripped of the seeding heats after Monday’s postponement, the event still maintained its reputation for unpredictability. Australia’s world champion, Alex “Chumpy” Pullin, crashed out in the quarter-finals and was soon joined at the exit by Austria’s former world champion Markus Schairer.
“Being first was the safe way today,” said Vaultier. “But being in the fighting group, it was still possible to progress because there were a lot of opportunities.”“Being first was the safe way today,” said Vaultier. “But being in the fighting group, it was still possible to progress because there were a lot of opportunities.”
Olyunin had also won his three races in even more impressive fashion by taking the lead on the early rollers and keeping well clear of the pack behind him. Roared on by the locals who had braved the weather, the 22-year-old again sprang out of the gate, looking to dominate the final.Olyunin had also won his three races in even more impressive fashion by taking the lead on the early rollers and keeping well clear of the pack behind him. Roared on by the locals who had braved the weather, the 22-year-old again sprang out of the gate, looking to dominate the final.
Vaultier stuck with him, though, and the pair raced nip-and-tuck over rollers and jumps with first one, then the other, taking the inside track to force themselves ahead on the steeply banked corners. The Frenchman got the tip of his board in front as the course widened heading into the final jump and although it was called as a photo-finish, there was no doubt that the 26-year-old from the Hautes-Alpes had crossed first.Vaultier stuck with him, though, and the pair raced nip-and-tuck over rollers and jumps with first one, then the other, taking the inside track to force themselves ahead on the steeply banked corners. The Frenchman got the tip of his board in front as the course widened heading into the final jump and although it was called as a photo-finish, there was no doubt that the 26-year-old from the Hautes-Alpes had crossed first.
There were plenty of falls over the four rounds of racing but only the Italian Omar Visintin required serious medical attention, after a fall in the second semi-final. He was taken off the course after clashing with Australia’s Cameron Bolton, who thought he had broken his wrist but suffered only the indignity of a badly bruised buttock.There were plenty of falls over the four rounds of racing but only the Italian Omar Visintin required serious medical attention, after a fall in the second semi-final. He was taken off the course after clashing with Australia’s Cameron Bolton, who thought he had broken his wrist but suffered only the indignity of a badly bruised buttock.
Reuters in Rosa Khutor contributed to this reportReuters in Rosa Khutor contributed to this report