Billy Morgan has done it!
Four years after Jenyy Jones won Bronze in Sochi Billy Morgan has backed up the pedigree of the UK fridge kids. Now Britain has another Bronze medal to celebrate on the snow at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics. Seven days after Izzy Atkin won Britain's first Skiing Medal the British flags waved again. Giving Great Britain a record fith medal at an Olympic games.
The success of Britsh snowports is huge for snowboarders and skiiers alike from these small powder starved isles. Deprived of a big mountain Billy Morgan took his first lessons on Southampton's dry slope at the old snowboarding age of 14. Again at 28 years old he was also the veteran of the Big air competition. Compare that to other countries where kids take up the sport from the age of 3 or 4 then the acomplishment is even more remarkable. I took my first lesson in Southampton as well and know that it is far harder than learning on snow. For Billy Morgan to start on the unforgiving dry slope and go on to win an Olympic medal is awesome.
He faced Big Airs Bigg Hitters. Canadas Mark Mcmorris and Max Parrot were favourite going into it. Yet it would be the Canadian Sebastien Toutant who took Gold with Kyle Mack taking Silver for the USA. The confirmation of Billy Morgans Bronze would have to wait. With what has become a new British tradition. The agonizing wait for the judges score and the even harder wait to see if the rest of talented field could beat him. It happened with Jenny Jones in 2014 and again with Izzy Atkin in these games. James Woods wait was also hard to watch with freestyle skiier narrowly pipped to a medal.
You would think that the British snowboarder would be nervous, especially after crashing on his first jump. But just before the second run he gave a joke stare to the camera in the preperation area to show that he was remarkably relaxed. Something that competitors have to be in this sport. Many of the best scorers from qualificatons failed to land two jumps. But Billy Morgan produced his best when it mattered. Showing how the qualities of a chilled attitude shine through in freestyle.
With two of the hardest and most stylish grabs of the day Billy Morgan reached the podium. The event proves why Big Air deserves its place in te Olympics and gave the Brit the sporting recognition he deserves.The first man to land a quad cork he had at times been seen as more of a gymnast with a snowboard, Yet today shows the whole world how he embodies the true spirit of the sport.
Stylish,relaxed,humble and dedicated, Billy Morgan has done Great Britain Proud,
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