Lindsey JACOBELLIS |
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Known in the scene as one of the most successful athletes in snowboard cross, Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) has the doubtful honour to have been massively recognised by the rest of the world as the girl who threw away Olympic Gold in 2006 by bailing an unnecessary method air on her way down to the finish - being clear in the lead with nobody in sight - finally finishing as runner-up.
While she first insisted that she did the grab on the last jump in order to stay stable on the board, which caused other athletes and coaches to call out on her, she admitted later that she might have showed-off a bit - a confession also proofing that only a true athlete can learn of mistakes.
And so she is.
After having undergone tough times in the media the highly decorated snowboard cross ace who also has won one halfpipe contest in Japan 2004 showed the world her outstanding ability to ride by celebrating a back-to-back World Championship snowboard cross Gold medal in Arosa, Switzerland, 2007 after having earned her first WCS Gold in Whistler, Canada, in 2005.
There are not many athletes out there who can come back after such a drama being still the one to beat out there on the race track where four riders go down a snowboard cross course peppered with several features such as big jumps, steep turns and exhausting roller sections - all with their elbows sharpened.
In 47 World Cup starts before the 2010 Vancouver Olympics to take place, the 24-years-old from Stratton, Vermont, clinched 29 podiums including a total of 20 wins making her one of the most successful female snowboard athletes still competing.
But the success didn't come from nowhere. Being introduced to snowboarding by her brother Ben, a former World Cup competitor, in 1996, whom she loved to chase down the course, Lindsey still rides most of the time with men making her strong to pass on the course. In addition, you can also credit Stratton Mountain School for allowing young kids go riding every day and go to high school.
For further information on Lindsey check out:
• www.lindseyjacobellis.com
• http://blog.lindseyjacobellis.com