Arielle Gold is an American snowboarder renowned for her achievements in halfpipe events. An Olympic medalist, she has garnered significant recognition in the world of snowboarding.
Early Life and Introduction to Snowboarding
Arielle learned to ski at the age of three. Her older brother, Taylor Gold, played a crucial role in her transition to snowboarding. He convinced her to switch to snowboarding when she was seven. She said: "Taylor made it look like so much fun". Their father said: Taylor is, in many ways, responsible for Arielle’s success because he... told her: 'Look, most of the girls do things the way the other girls do. You need to do things the way the guys do.
Early Career Success
Arielle Gold quickly rose through the ranks in the snowboarding world. In 2012, at the age of 15, she won the gold medal in the halfpipe at the FIS Junior Snowboarding World Championships. The following year, she secured a bronze medal in the superpipe at the 2013 Winter X Games XVII. In the same year, she won the gold medal in the halfpipe at the FIS Snowboarding World Championships 2013 in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, Quebec, Canada, at the age of sixteen. This made her the second youngest person to win the World Championships.
2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
In 2014, Arielle was the youngest member of the US Sochi Winter Olympics halfpipe team, at the age of 17. However, she suffered a separated shoulder right before the Olympics and was unable to compete.
Despite this setback, she remained determined and focused on future competitions.
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2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
Arielle is an Olympic medalist who is famous for winning a bronze medal in the women's halfpipe event for the United States during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
Sportsmanship
Arielle Gold emphasizes the importance of good sportsmanship in snowboarding. She raved about the current state of sportsmanship in snowboarding. “Snowboarders have some of the best sportsmanship that I have ever seen,” said Arielle. “Regardless of the fact that we are competing against each other, some of my competitors are my closest friends. And although I am not always happy with myself, I am always happy for them.” She also shared how she displays good sportsmanship out on the snow, and admitted “this is always something that I can use improvement in.”
When asked to relay a story of good sportsmanship from her snowboarding career, Arielle said there are too many examples to pick just one. “I have seen many of my opponents congratulate each other (and me), even when the day does not go well for them,” said Arielle. “They always run up to each other with a smile on their face, and it’s not hard to tell that their feelings are genuine.”
Arielle also believes coaches can do a lot to help youth athletes develop their sportsmanship muscles. And she shared how her own coaches help her put things in proper perspective. “The best thing that coaches can do to promote good sportsmanship is make sure that their athletes do not take competition too seriously,” said Arielle. “When you have a competitive nature like I (and many of my peers) do, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the competitive side of things. However, my coaches are pretty good about reassuring me and making me laugh, which helps to take the edge off.”
Steamboat Olympian Arielle Gold
Education and Personal Life
She attended the University of Colorado, where she studied psychology. Her older brother is fellow Olympic snowboarder Taylor Gold.
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Climate Change Advocacy
In episode 73 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks with Arielle Gold, Olympic medalist in snowboarding about her work with Protect our Winters, an advocacy group working to mobilize the outdoor sports community on climate change. Arielle also talks about her experiences as a snowboarder in the 2014 Sochi Winter Games in Russia and her medal winning turn at the Pyeongyang Winter Games in Korea. Arielle discusses the snow conditions at the Sochi games and how climate change influenced those discussions.
Achievements
Arielle Gold's achievements include:
- 2012: Gold medal in halfpipe at the FIS Junior Snowboarding World Championships
- 2013: Bronze medal in superpipe at the Winter X Games XVII
- 2013: Gold medal in halfpipe at the FIS Snowboarding World Championships
- 2018: Bronze medal in the women's halfpipe at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
Ranking
Arielle Gold is the 9,856th most popular athlete, the 22,366th most popular biography from United States and the 1,067th most popular American Athlete.
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