Vedder Earns Gold at Youth Olympics
LILLEHAMMER, Norway (Feb. 15, 2016) – American Jake Vedder (Pickney, MI, International Snowboard Training Center) won every heat he raced in to earn the gold medal in snowboardcross’ Winter Youth Olympic Games debut on Monday.
Vedder finished ahead of Alex Dickson of Australia and Sebastian Pietrzykowski of Germany.
The women also competed, with Manon Petit of France taking gold. Sophie Hediger of Switzerland was second and Caterina Carpano of Italy third. 17-year-old Shannon Maguire (Scituate, MA, Gould Academy) took ninth.
Vedder, a 17-year-old from Michigan, has already been racing snowboardcross for a decade. He has had marked success in the amateur ranks, including a podium finish on the Revolution Tour in 2015 and a win at the Dick’s Ditch Banked Slalom in 2014.
A dedicated and driven athlete, Vedder finished as the top junior snowboarder on the NorAm Cup circuit in 2015 and was named the Michigan Regional Champion for eight consecutive years (20016-2014). He will also compete in the Olympic test event in South Korea next week.
The men compete in snowboardcross at the Youth Olympic Games. (YIS/IOC)
“Crossing that line was an emotional experience,” Vedder said of his win. “To stand on top of a podium is incredible. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this medal; I might not even take it off.”
HIGHLIGHTS
- Jake Vedder won gold. He won every heat he raced in to earn the gold medal.
- Shannon Maguire took ninth in the women's snowboardcross race.
- The International Olympic Committee’s Youth Olympic Games offers a competitive venue for young athletes to not only compete, but also participate in a Learn & Share program designed to inspire and empower youth.
- Events will be live streamed on youtube.com/olympics. See full schedule here.
QUOTES
Jake Vedder
Crossing that line was an emotional experience—it’s crazy, it’s awesome. I worked all summer. Before a race I try to stay in the moment and just be myself…routine pays off for sure. I shut everyone out and focus. To stand on top of a podium is incredible. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this medal; I might not even take it off.