Winter Olympics: Snowboarder Billy Morgan wins Great Britain’s record fifth medal after winning bronze in big air


BILLY MORGAN claimed the bronze medal in the snowboarding big air to create history for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics.

The 28-year-old won a record fifth medal for Team GB in Pyeongchang, surpassing the four medals won by Britain in Chamonix 1924 and Sochi 2014.

Great Britain star Billy Morgan won the bronze medal in the snowboarding big air
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The 28-year-old had a combined score of 168 from his best two runs
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After a tenth place finish in Sochi, Morgan ensured he would end this Winter Olympics on the podium
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It looked like it would be a disaster for Morgan in the final after he fell on his first jump, but battled back to take third place with a combined score of 168 from his best two runs.

A second run of 82.50 was followed up by a huge 85.50, where he landed a front-side 14 triple with a mute and tail-grab, a jump he has never landed whilst competing.

He fell just agonisingly 0.75 points behind USA’s Kyle Mack who took home the silver medal, while Canada’s Sebastien Toutant romped to the gold after winning with a massive score of 174.25.

Morgan could scarcely believe he would wrap up his Games by finishing on the podium, with scenes of jubilation and disbelief when favourite Max Parrot crashed on his last run.

There were nerves when he failed to land on his first jump in the final
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Billy Morgan landed a front-side 14 triple with a mute and tail-grab to get a score of 85.50 in his third run
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It was a sensational performance from the European X Games bronze medallist
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Not only was he just one of two people over the age of 25 in the final, but he becomes Britain’s first man to win a medal on snow, and third along with Jenny Jones and Izzy Atkin.

Speaking immediately after winning bronze, Morgan, who has been battling a knee injury, said: “I’m 28 years old and I’ve maxed the limit of what my body can be scared about.


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“It’s the best feeling, the pay off after you do something you are scared about and you land on your feet, that’s why we do this.

“For that last trick I pushed all the fear to one side, I thought even if I completely wreck myself it doesn’t matter, I’m just going to go and do it.”

The Southampton man reacts after it was confirmed he would finish in third place
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Billy Morgan proudly stands next to Sebastien Toutant and Kyle Mack
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Before adding: “It’s great, it means so much for the whole team, they’re all stoked. I think there were a few tears actually.

“I don’t think I’ve seen any of them cry before. It’s weird isn’t it? I didn’t think I could win a medal, it’s just blown my mind.”

He joins Atkin, Dom Parsons and Laura Deas who all won bronze for Team GB this Games, while Lizzy Yarnold won gold after defending her title in the skeleton.


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