Lindsey JACOBELLIS

Lindsey Jacobellis has become the top American female in boardercross, winning five gold medals in the event at Winter X through 2009, and a silver medal in 2007. She was the 2005 World Champion and Grand Prix Champion and was heavily favored to win the 2006 Olympic gold medal. A series of television commercials prior to the Torino Olympics focused on her pursuit of the SBX gold. In the final at Torino, Jacobellis was leading for most of the race, coming to the last jump with a three-second lead over Frieden. But Jacobellis then hot dogged it, going for a twisting grab, and fell. Frieden passed her for the gold medal, although Jacobellis was able to recover for the silver. Jacobellis noted, “Snowboarding is fun. I was having fun.” She has recovered to dominate the circuit in 2007-09, winning Winter X gold in 2008 and 2009.