Zhangjiakou, China, February 10, 2022: China’s experienced freestyle skiers had to settle for the silver medals in the inaugural mixed team aerials final at the Genting Snow Park A & M Stadium on Thursday evening.
The three-strong mixed team of Xu Mengtao, 31, Jia Zongyang, 30, and Qi Guangpo, 31, finished second behind the United States, who were enjoying a golden day on snow and ice around the Games.
The United States won gold with 338.34 points; China scored 324.22 for silver and Canada took bronze with 290.98. Switzerland finished fourth with 276.01.
China had led the four qualifiers from the six-team Final I but could not repeat this form in Final II.
“The Chinese team is formidable, and we knew we needed to execute if we were going to beat them,” said Ashley Caldwell, a member of the triumphant United State team. “They are incredible jumpers, and we needed the top degree of difficulty to do that.”
To the disappointment of an enthusiastic hometown crowd, China faltered in the final.
The defining moment came when Jia - a two-time individual Olympic Games medallist in aerials - was unable to land cleanly. He toppled forward on his skis, somersaulted in mid-air and landed back on his skis facing down the slope. It looked acrobatic and spectacular, but it was an error that led to a low score for landing.
“A mistake today,” Jia said. “It’s a mistake. What has happened has happened. I will pull myself together and prepare for the next events.”
The silver medal took China’s haul to three gold and three silver from the first six days of action.
Photo: FIS Freestyle Skiing