Lindsey Jacobellis

Lindsey Jacobellis has been the top American female in boardercross, winning 10 gold medals in the event at Winter X through 2016, adding a silver medal in 2007. Through 2019, Jacobellis was a five-time World Champion in individual boardercross, adding a team mixed boardercross gold medal in 2019. She was the 2005 World Champion and Grand Prix Champion and was heavily favored to win the 2006 Olympic gold medal. A series of television commercials prior to the Torino Olympics focused on her pursuit of the SBX gold.

In the final at Torino, Jacobellis was leading for most of the race, coming to the last jump with a three-second lead over Frieden. But Jacobellis then hot dogged it, going for a twisting grab, and fell. Frieden passed her for the gold medal, although Jacobellis was able to recover for the silver. Jacobellis noted, “Snowboarding is fun. I was having fun.” She recovered to dominate the circuit over the next 10-12 years, and made five USA Olympic teams through 2022.