BEIJING – At the bottom of the halfpipe at Genting Snow Park in Beijing, Rachael Karker claimed the bronze in the women’s freeski halfpipe final at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The 24-year-old Erin resident secured a score of 87.75 in her first run to cap off her Olympic debut on the morning of Feb. 18.
Although Karker followed her first run with another two clean runs, her first descent into the half-pipe proved strong enough to land her a spot on the podium.
The win marked Canada’s 12th bronze medal in Beijing and 22nd medal overall as of Friday morning.
RACHAEL KARKER
The Olympic medalist was unavailable for comment before press time but ahead of her departure, Karker, who served as the team’s first alternate at the 2018 Olympics, told the Advertiser she was feeling ready going into these games.
“This time it feels really different because last time I was fighting so hard for my spot and I didn’t get it,” she said at the time.
Karker was one of two Canadians to make the podium for the event.
Cassie Sharpe of Comox, B.C. finished with a personal best score of 90.75 points for her second Olympic medal after winning the event four years ago in Pyeongchang.
The Canadian skiers finished behind China’s Eileen Gu, who scored a 95.25 for the gold.
Karker scored an 89.5 in the qualifiers the previous day, placing her in second among 20 competitors with the top 12 moving on to Friday’s final.
Having stood on the podium at all three half-pipe World Cup events in which she competed last season, Karker finished third in the overall FIS World Cup half-pipe standings.
Karker previously told the Advertiser her biggest goal heading into the games was to win a medal.
“I’d love to win,” Karker said.
“I’m not trying to put too much extra pressure on myself, but I’ve been extremely consistent over the last three years competing, and I think I have an extremely good chance of medalling at the games.”
