Alex Dickson has won Australia’s second medal of the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games after claiming silver in the snowboard cross on Hafjell Olympic Slope. Dickson just missed out on the gold after chasing the USA’s Jake Vedder all the way to the line, while Mollie Fernandez from Geelong was also fantastic in fourth.
"It's a dream come true," said the ecstatic youngster. "I always wanted a medal.
"The final was crazy. Everyone caught up to one another at one point and made it super tight, it was great racing.
The 17-year-old from Jindabyne didn't know what to expect heading into the competition but as it got closer there was only one thing on his mind.
"This was just going to be an experience for me but ever since training and then in the lead up all I wanted was a medal.
"I was hungry for it."
Dickson was strong throughout the competition qualifying in third just 0.03 seconds off the leader.
He finished fourth in his first heat before winning the next four to progress through to the Semi-Finals as the third ranked rider.
A second place finish in the semi set up a final showdown with Vedder, eventual bronze medallist Sebastian Pietrzykowski of Germany and Evan Bichon of Canada.
"The start was pretty crazy, we were all pretty tight. Then two pulled out in front and I had to make up some ground while trying to block off the guy behind me.
"I got the outside line on the second to last corner and just held second from there."
Fernandez was consistent throughout qualification and the heats and was ranked sixth leading into the Semi-Finals. Her second place finish there set her up for the four woman Final.
"I'm stoked," said the 17-year-old speedster.
"The competition was crazy. It was bang, bang, bang (race after race) and it was so much fun.
"I definitely didn't think I'd get to the Final so it's awesome."
Dickson’s result follows on from Emily Arthur’s silver medal in the snowboard halfpipe yesterday and improves on the two bronze medals from the Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games with plenty more competition to come.
Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au
"It's a dream come true," said the ecstatic youngster. "I always wanted a medal.
"The final was crazy. Everyone caught up to one another at one point and made it super tight, it was great racing.
The 17-year-old from Jindabyne didn't know what to expect heading into the competition but as it got closer there was only one thing on his mind.
"This was just going to be an experience for me but ever since training and then in the lead up all I wanted was a medal.
"I was hungry for it."
Dickson was strong throughout the competition qualifying in third just 0.03 seconds off the leader.
He finished fourth in his first heat before winning the next four to progress through to the Semi-Finals as the third ranked rider.
A second place finish in the semi set up a final showdown with Vedder, eventual bronze medallist Sebastian Pietrzykowski of Germany and Evan Bichon of Canada.
"The start was pretty crazy, we were all pretty tight. Then two pulled out in front and I had to make up some ground while trying to block off the guy behind me.
"I got the outside line on the second to last corner and just held second from there."
Fernandez was consistent throughout qualification and the heats and was ranked sixth leading into the Semi-Finals. Her second place finish there set her up for the four woman Final.
"I'm stoked," said the 17-year-old speedster.
"The competition was crazy. It was bang, bang, bang (race after race) and it was so much fun.
"I definitely didn't think I'd get to the Final so it's awesome."
Dickson’s result follows on from Emily Arthur’s silver medal in the snowboard halfpipe yesterday and improves on the two bronze medals from the Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games with plenty more competition to come.
Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au
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