Kirsty Muir secured Team GB’s only individual medal of the 2020 Youth Winter Olympic Games in Lausanne today, winning silver in the freestyle skiing big air competition at the Leysin Park and Pipe Centre.
The Scot, from Aberdeen, who qualified for the final in third place, was right in medal contention from the start, registering a score of 82.50 to place her in first position after run one. Scores of 78.50 and 87.50 in runs two and three further solidified her place on the podium, with her final score of 171.00 from her best two runs ensuring that she’d clinched second place. China’s Ailing Eileen Gu claimed the gold, with her combined score totalling 171.25 – just 1.25 in front of Muir.
“I’m really happy with how I skied, I aimed for my best tricks and managed to put them down well – I’m just so delighted,” said Kirsty, adding, “I’m just so happy (with the silver), Eileen had some amazing runs and she’s a really great skier and was amazing today. I really hope this will inspire some of the younger athletes back at home. I just try to ski how I ski with the hope that it will inspire some people.”
Freestyle skier, Jasper Klein, was the only other Team GB athlete in action on day 13, securing a top 10 finish in the men’s big air competition. Klein’s combined score of 133.75 from his best two runs saw him claim ninth position – Matej Svancer of Czech Republic was the eventual winner, triumphing with a score of 186.00.
Kirsty Muir was later announced as Team GB’s Closing Ceremony flagbearer at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games.
