Nfter two falls, German snowboarder Annika Morgan missed her goal of top 8 in the big air at the Beijing Olympics. The 20-year-old was only the second of three jumps in the final on Tuesday and had to settle for tenth place with 88.00 points.
Like four years ago, the Austrian Anna Gasser became the Olympic champion with 185.50 points ahead of Zoi Sadowski Synnott from New Zealand (177.00) and the Japanese Kokomo Murase (171.50). Snowboard star Gasser was on course for a medal from the very first jump. With a frontside double cork 1080, she took second place after the first run, just behind Sadowski Synnott. She maintained her position with a backside double cork 1080. With a Cab Double Cork 1200, which she showed in a competition for the first time, she was finally able to trump the New Zealander.
After eighth place in qualifying, Morgan wanted to confirm this performance in front of German IOC President Thomas Bach in the final. After a fall in the first round, the World Championship ninth placed the Cab Double Underflip Weddle and received 73.50 points. In the last round, however, Morgan fell at backside 10 and had to settle for only 14.50 points.
