Jacobellis DQ'd, Ricker takes gold for Canada in snowboardcross
WEST VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- No gold for Lindsey Jacobellis this time, either.
No medal at all, in fact.
And once again, no one to blame but herself.
Looking to redeem herself after giving away a victory four years ago, Jacobellis' return trip to the Olympics was even worse. Early in her semifinal race on the snowboardcross course Tuesday, she lost her balance on a jump, wobbled and skittered to try to regain her balance, but clipped the outside of a gate.
Disqualified.
She raised her hands in disbelief, then clasped them over her helmet. The most dominant rider in the world for most of the last decade didn't even make the medal round.
This time, the gold went to Canada's Maelle Ricker, who easily defeated Deborah Anthonioz of France in the final. Olivia Nobs of Switzerland won the bronze.
Even in Canada, where they were celebrating their second gold medal of the Olympics, nobody thought the story would end this way.