Team GB’s Freestyle skier Kirsty Muir finished in an impressive fifth place in the first-ever women’s Big Air final.
Kirsty Muir pictured at a previous X games. PHOTO: GB Snowsport
Kirsty, who was making her Olympic debut and at 17 years old is Team GB’s youngest competitor at the Winter Games, will now compete in the slopestyle competition on Sunday.
Commenting on her performance in the final, Kirsty said: “It was an amazing competition and the level was just insane. I’m super happy with how I skied. To beat someone like Sarah Hoefflin (the 2018 slopestyle Olympic champion) who is an amazing person is super cool.
Kirsty landed a dub12 trick which at one stage had her in bronze medal position after the first run.
“I’m here to go for it and I’m really proud of myself for doing that,” she said. “I’ve landed that trick before but I tried it with a different grab and I’ve only ever done that once before in competition, it’s the best I’ve ever done it.”
“It’s a dream come true just to come to the Olympics, I’m super happy. I’ve got a bit of studying to catch up on for sure, but I’m focused on my next event and then it’s back to school.”
GB team mate Alex Tilley returned to the Olympic Winter Games four years on from her debut in PyeongChang and took 22nd place in the women’s Giant Slalom competition.
Tilley, who has battled back from a serious injury sustained at the beginning of the season, finished with a time of 2.82, which was less than a second outside of the top-20.
Kirsty Muir during Big Air final at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Photo by Sam Mellish / Team GB.