USA's Kaitlyn Farrington Shreds Her Way to Halfpipe Gold

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US Kaitlyn Farrington competes in the Women's Snowboard Halfpipe Finals at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 12, 2014

Image: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

By Sam Laird2014-02-12 18:40:11 UTC

Kaitlyn Farrington of Team USA won the women's snowboarding halfpipe gold medal on Wednesday night in Sochi, shredding to victory on a Winter Olympics' course that was harshly criticized by riders earlier this week.

Farrington registered a high score of 91.75 on her second run. Australia's Torah Bright came in second, while Kelly Clark of Team USA took the bronze medal.

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Farrington beat out a stacked halfpipe field of 11 other snowboarders that included gold medalists from the past three Olympics. Bright won in Vancouver in 2010, American Hannah Teter won in 2006 in Vancouver and Clark won in 2002 in Salt Lake City. Teter finished fourth on Wednesday

After her big win Farrington, hugged the runner-up finishers and draped an American flag around her shoulders.

Farrington's win came on a Sochi halfpipe that was roundly criticized by male and female snowboarders this week. Teter called it "crappy," multiple riders described it as bumpy and unnecessarily dangerous, and 34 falls were reported during Tuesday's men's qualifying rounds.

Women's favorite Clark hit the lip and took a notable fall during her first run Wednesday, drawing comparisons to fellow American favorite Shaun White's struggles in the men's final Tuesday.

For American compatriot Farrington though, all's well that ends well and she'll go home to the U.S. with a brand new piece of gold jewelry.

Topics: Entertainment, Olympics, Sports