Winter Olympics: tearful Xu Mengtao takes China’s gold tally to five, Kaillie Humphries wins inaugural monobob title
- ‘I am number one. We have won. I have finally won at home,’ Xu shouts after winning women’s aerials
- Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu holds a press conference to address questions and set aside rumours that he is retiring
China’s Xu Mengtao finally claimed Beijing Winter Olympics gold when she triumphed in a dramatic final of the freestyle skiing women’s aerials on home snow in Zhangjiakou on Monday, producing a spectacular jump as most of her main rivals faltered.
“I am number one. We have won. I have finally won at home,” Xu shouted with the Chinese flag draped around her. She shed tears of joy as she received the ceremonial doll on the podium, with staff at the Games yelling “Xu Mengtao, you are the best !” as they held up a Chinese flag.
On a day when big air gold medallist Eileen Gu reappeared for the slopestyle women’s qualifiers, Sochi silver medallist and current World Cup leader Xu nailed a 108.61 effort to edge defending champion Hanna Huskova, of Belarus, with Megan Nick taking a surprise bronze for the United States.
It was China’s fifth gold medal of the Games after Gu, Gao Tingyu (men’s 500 speed skating), Ren Ziwei (men’s 1,000m short track) and China’s victorious short track mixed relay team.
Xu had to wait as American Ashley Caldwell, the most impressive performer in qualifying, attempted to beat her score, only to crash-land and spark wild celebrations among the Chinese supporters.
It was China’s first victory in the event after five silver medals since it was added to the Games programme in 1994.
Caldwell finished fourth, one place ahead of world champion and favourite Laura Peel of Australia, who had a final to forget. On a bitterly cold night, a gusting, northerly wind brought the temperature down to -23 Celsius and made jumping difficult.
