Utah’s Jaelin Kauff Returns Home With Olympic Medal
Feb 11, 2022, 11:47 PM | Updated: Feb 12, 2022, 4:59 pm
(Sam Farnsworth/KSL Sports)
(Sam Farnsworth/KSL Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY — One of the first medalists in the 2022 Winter Olympics lives in Park City.
Jaelin Kauff led three Americans into the finals of the women’s moguls in Beijing and won the Silver medal.
Friday night, she arrived back in Salt Lake City to a warm reception.
Jaelin hasn’t been able to hug her family and friends since Christmas.
“We saw her compete at Deer Valley, but we couldn’t come within 10 feet of her,” said Patti Kauff, Jaelin’s mom.
They had to play it COVID safe so that Jaelin could get to the Games without incident.
“So happy to have you home,” Jaelin’s dad, Scott Kauf, said as he hugged her Friday night. “So proud of you. Man, what a performance. You lit it up.”
Now, they are hugging an Olympic medalist.
She will forever be known as SILVER MEDALIST @JaeBird96! Back home in Utah with some new hardware.#KSLOlympics l @kslsports l @KSL5TV l #Olympics l #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/EzXHOabdIu
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) February 12, 2022
“This is so special,” Jaelin said. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing my family and friends for so long now. It’s so cool they all met me here at the airport.”
Homecomings are always sweet. A silver medal makes this one just a bit sweeter.
“This is great, it’s really something,” Scott said. “She’s just amazing.”
Is this not one of the coolest things ever?!?! pic.twitter.com/BUWt3VdwzE
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) February 12, 2022
The last few days have been a bit of a blur for Jaelin — from winning the Silver medal, to flying from Beijing to New York to make some national media appearances, to finally landing back home in Utah.
“What’s it been like from that moment ’til now? Um, a dream. It’s been crazy and just slowly sinking in more and more,” Jaelin said.
A dream come true because from now on, whenever you say her name, it will be Jaelin Kauff, Olympic Silver medalist.
“Yeah, that’s cool. That’s really cool,” Jaelin said.
Jaelin looked happy and relieved to be home, but also a bit bired.
Her mom told KSL that she doesn’t have to compete again until March, so for now, some much earned rest and family time.
