Beijing (AP) – The German freestyle snowboarder Annika Morgan has reached the final in the Big Air competition at the Olympic Games in China.
Two days after her 20th birthday, the athlete from Mittenwald received a total of 132.25 points in the qualification for her two best runs. She was eighth in the final of the twelve best athletes on Tuesday (2:30 a.m. CET).
“I didn’t expect that at all. I’m still a bit speechless now. I really didn’t think I could do it and then come eighth,” said Morgan after her courageous appearance in the first permanent big-air stadium of the world.
At the Beijing Games, the men’s and women’s big-air competitions in freestyle skiing and snowboarding will be held there. The facility is about 50 minutes by bus west of the Olympic Stadium and was built on the site of a former steelworks.
For the athletes, the events are all about performing tricks after jumping down a ramp in the air and then landing safely. Points are awarded for Difficulty, Clean Execution, Height and Landing categories. Zoi Sadowski-Synnott from New Zealand is in the lead after qualifying. The 20-year-old had already won the gold medal in the slopestyle competition, Morgan had finished eighth last week. “I’m not putting myself under any pressure right now,” said Morgan, looking ahead to the final. “Of course my goal is to land everything and show my best snowboard. I’ll try that tomorrow as well. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”