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By Liz Alper
Photos via Zimbio
February 18, 2018 (PyeonChang, South Korea) - At the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, men’s slopestyle skiier Nick Geopper medaled for bronze in an American sweep of the podium. But he wanted a level up, like Mario when he eats a mushroom.
He got that level up to a silver on Sunday afternoon. But he wasn’t settling for it. He was happy and he had a right to be, especially since there was no way he was beating Oystein Braaten of Norway’s 95.00. He did come close, posting a 93.60. Canada’s Alex Beaulieu-Marchand took bronze with 92.40.
Slopestyle skiing for both genders made its debut at the Sochi games and has gotten more complicated since, with skiiers trying all kinds of new tricks and jumps.
BOWE SECURES THIRD TOP-FIVE FINISH
On Sunday, Brittany Bowe posted her third straight top-five finish of this year's Games with a 37.53-second finish in the women's 500 meter speed skating. She also finished fourth in the 1,000 meter and fifth in the 1,500 meter.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed coming out medal-less so far,” said Bowe. “We still have the team pursuit. I really want a medal for everybody that’s helped me along the way, my whole life and especially this past year and a half getting me back to that start line. It would mean the world to me.”
In front of her were Nao Kodaira of Japan, who took gold with an Olympic record time of 36.94 seconds, Sang-Hwa Lee of Korea took silver (37.33 seconds), Karolina Erbanova of the Czech Republic with bronze (37.34 seconds) and Vanessa Herzog of Austria, who finished fourth with 37.51 seconds.
“Other than being two-tenths off the podium, I’m really, really happy with that race,” Bowe said. “I can’t think of anything I could have executed better, to be honest with you.”
Bowe, who turns 30 the day before the closing ceremonies, says she isn't done yet.
“I definitely plan on going another four years,” Bowe said. “I can’t be done here, that’s for sure.”
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