Snowboarder Li Jiayu wins China’s first medal in Winter Olympics

Li Jiayu has snatched China’s first medal of the 2018 Pyeonchang Winter Olympic Games, winning silver in the women’s snowboard halfpipe.

The 25-year-old already has an accomplished resume, winning a world championship title at the age of 16 and participating in the last two Olympics. However, on both occasions she was returning from injury and only managed to place 4th in 2010 and 9th in 2014.

In first was American Chloe Kim, whose Korean-born father managed to steal the show and win the hearts of viewers in the US with his adorable sign.

While China has come to somewhat dominate the Summer Olympic Games, the same can not be said for the winter version. In Sochi, the country came in 12th at the medal table with only 9 total medals, including just 3 golds, behind countries like Poland, Switzerland, and Belarus.

However, with Beijing chosen as the host for the 2022 games, China is now determined to get its populace to care about winter sports, including by forcing primary and middle school kids in Beijing to learn one of them.

“It’s time to celebrate. This sport in China is going to grow,” Liu said after winning the silver. “For Chinese people having someone on the podium for the Olympics is an honor. It will be a huge push for Chinese snowboard.”

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