Sage Kotsenburg, U.S. Snowboarder, Wins First Gold Medal Of Sochi 2014

U.S. snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg was the first athlete at the Sochi 2014 Olympics to win a gold medal.

Kotsenburg, 20, was the underdog going into the men’s snowboard slopestyle competition. He ended up getting down the course in 93.5 seconds, beating out Staale Sandbech, who got the silver, and Mark McMorris of Canada, who took home the bronze.

Kotsenburg admitted his surprise in claiming the first gold medal of the Winter Games on Twitter.

Shaun White, the best-known American snowboarder was slated to participate in the race but dropped out earlier this week. Next week, White will compete in the men’s halfpipe.

Aside from Kotsenburg, women’s skiathlon competitor Marit Bjoergen from Norway, Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer and Norwegian biathlon Ole Einar Bjoerndalen have all won gold medals.

– Chelsea Regan

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