Pemberton's Kristi Richards may not have earned an Olympic medal on Saturday (Feb. 13) but she sure earned respect from thousands of wet fans at Cypress Mountain after recovering from a crash in the moguls final to pull off a huge back full on the second air.
The 28-year-old nailed her first jump but lost control midway down the course. She quickly got up, saluted the crowd and finished her run in stunning fashion followed by a big smile for the cheering spectators.
"I've been working on that trick for four years, so I'm so happy to have been able to have stuck it out here," Richards told media.
"Unfortunately, I had to have it with a crash, but I'm really proud of myself. I pushed my limit, I did everything I could to be in the best place possible."
Richards, who placed seventh at the 2006 Winter Games and won the 2007 World Championship, finished in 20th position.
Fellow Canadian Jennifer Heil went on to win silver, Canada's first 2010 Olympic medal, while Chloe Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal placed fifth.
The silver is bitter sweet, however, as the 26-year-old of Spruce Grove, Alta. was favoured to earn Canada's first gold medal on home soil. Instead, American Hannah Kearney earned her country's first gold medal of the Vancouver Games. Fellow American Shannon Bahrke won bronze.
"There's no doubt about it, I was going for that gold medal," said Heil.
"That was in my sights, but I truly feel like I won silver today and I'm really proud of my performance, but also everything behind me, of how well supported I've been to this point. I'm just so proud to be a Canadian at this moment in time."
Heil's score on turns, air and time totalled 25.69, not quite as dialled as Kearney's score of 26.63.
Kearney's performance redeemed a poor showing at the 2006 Torino Games, where she was favoured to medal but instead placed 22nd. She hopes the gold spurs on her fellow American Olympians, she said.
"That's been a huge goal of mine. Go Team USA," said Kearney. "I really want to be a part of an Olympic montage. I think I've earned my right now and if I can inspire any other American athlete [] if this can encourage and send a positive vibe and set the tone for the Americans, I'll take it."
