In the final event of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing (CHN), nations went head to head in the mixed team parallel event to claim the last medals of the games. Reigning champions, Switzerland, were one of the favourites but knew that the 2018 runner ups, Austria, would give them a run for their money.
After being knocked out in the quarterfinals by Germany, Switzerland finished in 6th behind France and the USA. The Americans who lost the semi-finals against Germany battled it out against the Norwegians for the bronze medal in the small final. Norway went on to beat the USA in a tie break with a 0.42-second difference.
Ramus Windingstad (NOR) on the ‘Attacking Vikings’ winning another medal to follow up their 2021 world championship gold:
“It’s for sure very big. We are getting quite good at team events. The ‘Attacking Vikings’ (the team’s nickname) are a big group, we are always together in everything we do. It’s unbelievable to be able to experience this together.”
Thea Louise Stjernesund (NOR) on the approach to a team event:
“It’s always special to do something team-wise in competition for Alpine skiers because we are individualists. It’s not a situation we are so used to, so I felt it was very important for the whole team to be very clear no matter what happens we all try our best, and we have to risk it and we will do mistakes if we are going to ski on the limit to get medals.
“All of us were on the ground after the first round and we managed to get ourselves up and ski faster and faster.”
In the big final, Austria and Germany went head to head to decide who would be crowned Olympic champions of the mixed team parallel. Having placed 5th in the 2018 mixed team parallel, Germany were ready to show what they were made of and to claim their first gold medal in alpine skiing since Sochi 2014. Nonetheless, in a very tight big final, Austria pushed through to claim the gold on a tie break finish. Winning the tie break by 0.19 seconds, Austria claimed its third gold medal at the 2022 Olympics.
Linus Strasser (GER) on their team spirit being key to winning silver:
“We had a good team spirit from the beginning and it was good team performance from everybody.”
Lena Dueer (GER) on heading home with Germany’s first Alpine skiing gold medal of these Games:
“This was the perfect ending. We had a good time the last three weeks, we are happy to go home with a medal altogether.”
Johannes Strolz (AUT) on winning team gold plus individual gold and silver just seven months after being dropped from the team:
“I always believed in myself that I am able to compete at the highest level but three medals at the Olympics, two gold, one silver – I have never thought about that, that it would be possible for me just a year after losing the team spot. Now, I am just very, very thankful and happy to achieve this with my team.
Katharina Liensberger (AUT) on the pressure of performing in a team event:
“Of course you know there is pressure on you to do it, not only for yourself but for your team, your nation, Austria.
“It was not an easy job today that makes me even happier.”
Quotes courtesy of the Olympic Information Service
The post Beijing 2022: Austria win the mixed team parallel first appeared on Ski And Boarding.
