CTVolympics.ca
February 16, 2010

Ricker wins gold in snowboard cross final

Snowboard cross athlete Maelle Ricker delivered Canada's second gold medal of the 2010 Games at Cypress Mountain.

Ricker, the world's top-ranked World Cup circuit rider coming into the Games, finished Tuesday's race ahead of France's Deborah Anthonioz and Olivia Nobs of Switzerland.

The gold medal victory ends a long-standing rivalry Ricker has shared with American rider Lindsey Jacobellis, who won the Olympic silver medal in 2006.

Jacobellis fumbled a landing of the first jump in the semi-final and missed a gate. Jacobellis secured her 2006 Olympic medal in a race that left Ricker in the hospital.

Ricker narrowly qualified for Tuesday's finals, advancing only on the strength of her second qualifying run. The 31-year-old Vancouver-native blew out of the course and could not secure a competitive time during in her first qualifying run.