US Beats Out China To Win Mixed Aerials Olympic Debut

Feb 10, 2022, 7:17 AM | Updated: 7:28 am

ZHANGJIAKOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Gold medallists Justin Schoenefeld, Christopher Lillis and Ashley Caldwell of Team United States pose during the Freestyle Skiing Mixed Team Aerials flower ceremony on Day 6 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 10, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.

(L-R)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — A trio of Americans won gold in the Olympics’ first mixed team aerials event to give the United States its first medals in the freestyle skiing discipline in a dozen years.

Ashley Caldwell, Christopher Lillis and Justin Schoenefeld each earned their first Winter Games medals.

AERIALS GOLD FOR @TeamUSA!

In the Olympic debut of Mixed Team Aerials, @j_schoenefeld, @AshleySkis and Chris Lillis stand at the top of the podium for @TeamUSA! #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/6yjhfPqL2z

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 10, 2022

Lillis’ back double full-full-double full was given the highest score of any trick in the finals and the U.S. title was assured when Schoenefeld followed with a clean back double full-full-full.

The 28-year-old Caldwell is in her fourth Olympics but has never finished higher than 10th. She and Schoenefeld have been dating for about three years.