YOG: Radamus’ Golden Streak Ends
HAFJELL, Norway (Feb. 19, 2016) – River Radamus' (Edwards, CO, U.S. Ski Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) gold medal streak came to an end as he failed to finish the first run in Friday's slalom at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
It was tight in the top two with a multinational podium that featured Austria’s Manuel Traninger as the fastest skier just three hundredths ahead of Sweden’s Filip Vennerstroem. Norway’s Odin Vassbotn Breivik rounded out the podium in third, 1.33 seconds out. This was Traninger’s first gold medal of the Games, though he has finished in the top five in every event of the Youth Olympic Games so far.
Radamus’ historic third gold medal was presented by Swiss Olympic downhill gold medalist Dominique Gisin. “I’m sure we will hear a lot about him,” the Swiss Olympic champion told Around the Rings. “His skiing is fantastic; it’s really Bode style.” With that Bode style comes risk-taking and it’s clear Radamus skis to win, not to just finish.
Modeled after the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games debuted its winter event in 2012 at Innsbruck, Austria. Held every four years, the Youth Olympic Winter Games feature more than 1,100 athletes aged 15 to 18, from around the world. Alpine events included slalom, giant slalom, super G and alpine combined. The Games continue through February 21.
Next up for alpine racing, Radamus and teammate Keely Cashman (Squaw Valley, CA, National Training Group/Squaw Valley Ski Team) will compete in a parallel mixed gender team event on Saturday.
HIGHLIGHTS
- River Radamus did not finish the first run of the Youth Olympic Games slalom.
- On Thursday with his giant slalom gold, Radamus became the first skier or snowboarder in history to win three individual gold medals in the Youth Olympic Games.
- Austria’s Manuel Traninger, the slalom gold medalist, has finished in the top five in every event of the Youth Olympic Games so far.
- Alpine racing continues Saturday with a parallel mixed gender team event to wrap up the games. Radamus and Cashman will compete.
- Live broadcasts, event and daily highlights are available on the Youth Olympic Winter Games YouTube Channel.
RESULTS
Men’s slalom
River Radamus
River Radamus hails from Edwards, Colorado where he learned to ski on the slopes of Vail, alongside his parents who are coaches. Radamus showed promise from an early age, named to the team in 2016. He is a three-time Youth Olympic Games gold medalist; he is the first to achieve this feat. Radamus also won two Junior World Championships gold medals, one in super-G and one in giant slalom.