LIVIGNO, Italy — He could downplay it all he wanted — and, over the years, Scotty James certainly has — but, deep down, the one gaping hole on his otherwise sterling snowboarding resume had to gnaw at him, even if just a little.
The Australian had done everything in the sport save one thing: win an Olympic gold medal. A spectacular second run from James under the lights in Livigno looked to be enough — James stretched out his arms after landing his final jump. Then he pumped his fists and waited for his score.
The result: a 93.50, agonizingly close to, but still trailing, the leader Yuto Totsuka from Japan.
Totsuka would earn gold by that margin, only after James suffered more heartbreak, falling on his last of two 1440 in his final run, and settling for a second-straight Olympic silver. Japan’s Ryusei Yamada won bronze.
It was an especially competitive final with four boarders earning scores above 90. American Alessandro Barbieri, who five years ago decided he was competing in these Games the moment they were awarded to Italy, finished 10th, his best score a first-run 75.00 after falling on his last two runs.
Barbieri is a first-generation American, the son of two Italians immigrants, and told himself back in 2019 when northern Italy officially earned hosting duties for these Games he was going to make it. At the time, he was 12. There’s a good chance Barbieri will be back in four years’ time.
A nice surprise for the U.S. was Jake Pates, the final qualifier Wednesday, who nailed his first run for a score of 77.50. He finished eighth. The third American to qualify, Chase Josey, fell on his first run, rallied for a 70.25 the second time and finished 11th.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
