First there was wind.
Then came the flu.
But after fighting off a disappointing fall in the slopestyle competition, and illness last week, Julia Marino is close to her longtime dream: an Olympic medal.
The Westport snowboarder was 2nd after her first big air run yesterday, then finished 9th overall in qualifying competition. That earned her one of 12 spots in Thursday’s final.
Julia’s jumps — shown around the world — were preceded a day earlier by a special NBC report on her long friendship with Chaihyun Kim. Their journey together began at Long Lots Elementary School, and ended in South Korea.
Click here to see that heartwarming report.
A screengrab from the NBC report shows Julia Marino and Chai Kim reuniting at the Seoul airport.
(Hat tip: Sharon and John Miller)
As the mother of a LL grad (oh so many years ago!), and the proud grandmother of 2 Long Lots students now…I am eagerly watching our “hometown girl” Julia with anticipation of a medal win…and…an “Olympian Parade” in Westport…What better way to show our “Lions Pride”…GO JULIA!!!!⛷⛷⛷⛷⛷⛷⛷⛷⛷
As a substitute teacher I feel close to all students! Go Jules!
Couldn’t be more excited for Julia and her family. John & Elaine have done a remarkable job as parents – encouraging and supporting Julia’s passion and dreams. I hope the entire family is having the time of their lives in South Korea. The entire Jonas family is cheering you on!!
Looks like the Ladies’s Big Air Finals will air a day earlier due to incoming weather. “With heavy winds in the forecast for Friday morning, the women’s snowboard big air final has moved forward 24 hours to Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. local time in PyeongChang.” (That’s Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET in the U.S.).https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/womens-big-air-final-moved-forward-one-day-due-weather-forecast