Fansided

Red Gerard’s hometown Rocky River celebrates gold medal win (Video)

By Molly Kate Tracy

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 11: Redmond Gerard of the United States competes during the Snowboard Men's Slopestyle Final on day two of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Phoenix Snow Park on February 11, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 11: Redmond Gerard of the United States competes during the Snowboard Men's Slopestyle Final on day two of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Phoenix Snow Park on February 11, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Rocky River, Red Gerard’s hometown, watched as Gerard brings home the first gold medal for Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Red Gerard’s hometown of Rocky River went crazy as their native son took home the first gold medal for the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics. In Gerard’s final run, he dug deep and knocked off a pair of Canadians off the top of the podium.

Gerard gave Team USA not only its first gold medal but the first medal of the 2018 Winter Games.

There is no better start for an athlete at the Olympics, let alone one who is only 17 competing in his very first event. This makes the youngest American to medal in a snowboarding event, as well as the second American to win the slopestyle after it made its debut in Sochi. The first was Sage Kotensburg. Gerard has done a great job at making some memories and setting records the first night of the Olympics.

While it can be assumed that most of his family is there with him in South Korea given he’s younger than eighteen, it’s great to see his friends back home in Colorado cheering for him. This is a great day for the United States and the people of Rocky River.

In the video, you can see everyone crying, holding up signs, and embracing each other. This is truly a spectacular moment for everyone who knows the young snowboarder.

According to NBC’s biographic information, at 15 he was already making progress towards the Olympics. By February 2017, he had already qualified in one of seven qualifiers for the Olympics.

There is no better start for an athlete at the Olympics, let alone one who is only 17 competing in his very first event. This makes the youngest American to medal in a snowboarding event, as well as the second American to win the slopestyle after it made its debut in Sochi. The first was Sage Kotensburg. Gerard has done a great job at making some memories and setting records the first night of the Olympics.

Next: Best Olympian from each state

For more from the Winter Olympics, make sure to follow FanSided and stayed tuned to our Olympics hub for all the latest news and results.

Home/Winter Olympics