I'm trying to think of sportswriters coming down harder on an athlete in a sport they clearly don't understand. Four years ago we all know that with a big lead Lindsey Jacobellis hot dogged it and tried a method man and wiped out. She was being idiot and it cost her a gold. Her horrible consolation was a silver. She was 20 years old and is in a sport where attitude is part of the culture. She attempted a common move and messed up. Who did this hurt? Her. You can say it's embarrassing for the U.S.A. Fine. If you want to go there, fine. But still she made a mistake and learned from it. She was 20, and to be honest, it's her right to do what she wants. And what were these writers doing when they were 20? I know for me it wasn't winning silvers and being the best in the world at something. And I think she only benefits the U.S. What occurred today had nothing to do with it. She is not a turkey as Yahoo columnist Jess Passan stupidly wrote (and he's not even remotely the only one) as he destroyed her. And if you think it did you don't know Snowboard Cross.
She crushed her three runs and ran away with her quarterfinal race after qualifying second. Then in the semi's she caught a lot of air and landed wrong and went out of bounds. Sadly, these things happens. What also happens was another rider caught less air and looked to go toward where she was landing. Now I haven't seen her say if this affected her or not but it sure looked like she was coming down on the French rider if she didn't adjust and on the land made a mistake. It's shocking. It sucks but sadly these things happen. Maelle Ricker, the Gold Medalist, had serious issues qualifying. Yesterday Seth Wescott has issues with qualifying and benefited from a wipeout in the Semis to make the final. Fellow American Nate Holland won the semis after starting strong all day and being runner up to Wescott in his quarters run but in the finals he pushed too hard and finished fourth. Fellow teammate Graham Watanabe raced great all day but in his heat missed it by a hair. Again these things happen in Snowboard cross. It's the nature of the sport. Mellie Francon from Switzerland finished first in qualifying but in her quarter run she made a mistake and was a non factor. Deborah Anthonioz only won the silver after the two racers in front of her wiped out. Are all of these other athletes going to be bashed and ridiculed? No and nor should they be. And neither should Lindsey Jacobellis. This happens in the up and down world of Snowboard cross. It makes it exciting as hell to watch but as an athlete you can know you're the best but can wipe out as many of the best in the world did over the past two years. It's not speed skating. It's short track speed skating where you can be in four place but then a guy takes out a teammate and end up with a silver as Apollo Anton Ohno did this Olympics. Even when you're in control you're not in control.
And to criticize her for this shows a lack of understanding. I'm sure she feels horrible. I'm sure nobody feels worse than her. You can see it in her body language after the DQ. Not to mention she's had to have the same interview for the past four years. Hell, NBC has had three people essentially give her the same interview in their coverage and she's handled it amazing. I know I would be like, ok I get it enough I'm done talking. Hell, look at how Mel Gibson has responded to the same question in some of the press for Edge of Darkness. Lets just say it hasn't been pretty. Jacobellis obviously loves what she does and is making a great living in a sports she understands to be chaotic. She's lucky she gets to "play" for a living. Good for her. And she knows she's got it good. And I think that's admirable.
So yes she's not an Olympic Gold medalist but she's not a failure and definitely not a turkey. She's won 6 golds in the X Games and 2 in Worlds. One race you're up. Once race you're down. And to be up as much as she has been in impressive as hell. It's just a shame that because it's the Olympics and it's the only time the mainstream public and media pay attention she's being bashed for a mistake that could of happened to anyone, even the best in the world which she clearly is one of.
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