U.S. women take gold, bronze in halfpipe

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia – This Idaho cowgirl definitely didn’t have the blues.

Unheralded snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington won the gold medal in the women’s halfpipe Wednesday night at Rosa Rhutor Extreme Park by edging the three previous Olympic champions as the United States regained a little prestige on a day some of the biggest names faltered at the Sochi Games.

Farrington, 24, who grew up on a cattle ranch riding horses, led a strong American effort at the halfpipe a day after Shaun White and the U.S. men stunningly were shut out of a top-three finish.

Farrington held off reigning Olympic champion Torah Bright of Australia, who finished .25 of a point behind her in second place, and 2002 gold medalist Kelly Clark of Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

Hannah Teter of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., the 2006 gold medalist, was fourth, just .25 of a point behind Clark.

The women boarders restored some faith in the American team that has so far had a tepid start to the Sochi Games.

Before the halfpipe final was held late Wednesday night, alpine skier Julia Mancuso of Squaw Valley finished a disappointing eighth in the women’s downhill while Chicago long track speedskater Shani Davis also was eighth in the 1,000 meters, an event he won the two previous Olympics.

Farrington won America’s third gold medal of the games on her final attempt of six runs Wednesday.

“I can’t believe I was sitting there in front of the last three gold medalists,” she said. “It’s crazy. Snowboarding’s changing so much. It’s anybody’s game on any day.”

That’s the case if you ride for the United States. Since halfpipe was introduced in 1998, Americans have won eight of the 15 medals awarded. Clark now has three gold and two bronze and Teter has a gold and a silver.

Clark, 30, who won the Winter X Games halfpipe gold last month, celebrated an American finishing atop the field.

“If I didn’t win I’m glad someone from the U.S. did so we can hear the national anthem,” she said of the medal ceremony.

If not for the new additions of action sports, the United States would be in serious trouble. Snowboarders Sage Kotsenburg and Jamie Anderson won the other two U.S. gold medals in the new slopestyle event.

White – the biggest celebrity of the Sochi Games – was expected to win his third consecutive gold medal Tuesday night but seemingly could not handle the pressure on his final run on a night he and fellow American riders crashed out. White was fourth but nowhere near the top three in the final.

Then came the U.S. women, who looked as relaxed as ever while attacking the pipe with ah-inspiring tricks and ultracoolness.

“That was something very, very special that just happened,” said Farrington’s father, Gary.

His eyes were wet after Clark’s final score appeared on a large screen at the bottom of the halfpipe.

The horse trainer sold his cows to help fund his daughter’s snowboarding. But the Idahoans never expected their project to lead to the Olympics.

Many others didn’t, either. Farrington won the final of five selection events last month at Mammoth to just make the team.

“It was all so fast,” she said. “I kind of believed it when I was on my flight to Sochi. Now to leave as a gold medalist, I’m just beside myself about it.”

The former barrel racer who started skiing at age 3 said her final run might have been her best ever.

“Up at the top, I was like I’ve got nothing to lose right now,” Farrington said. “So I may as well just go for it.”