Winter Olympics Photo of the Day: Slippin', Slidin', Slalom

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By Kurt Wagner2014-02-22 23:41:30 UTC

Julia Dujmovits of Austria (L) and Corinna Boccacini of Italy compete during the women's snowboard parallel slalom event semifinals at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. Dujmovits ultimately finished first.

Image: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Sport

Heel, toe, heel, toe. It's easier said than done, even though these Olympians made it look easy.

Saturday's photo of the day from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi captures the tight turns made by women's parallel snowboard slalom competitors Julia Dujmovits of Austria (picture above, left) and Corinna Boccacini of Italy during the event's semifinals at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.

See also: How to Watch and Follow the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony

Dujmovits, 26, finished on top of the podium Saturday, taking home gold in the event's inaugural appearance at the Winter Olympics. It was Dujmovits's only medal of the games, and the first of her career. Boccacini ultimately finished fourth.

"I love the simplicity of this picture from the ladies parallel snowboard slalom," Mike Ehrmann, the Getty Images photographer who captured the shot, told Mashable. "It shows the women way up on the edge of their boards, and just how tight and fast the turns are, and how many they have to do to complete the run.

"As a snowboarder, I know just how difficult some of these tight turns can be, and to do this many in a row in opposite directions while racing head-to-head with someone, is an impressive and underrated athletic achievement."

The Winter Olympics wraps up Sunday, with few remaining medals up for grabs.

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Topics: Dujmovits, Entertainment, photo of the day, snowboard parallel slalom, Olympics, Sports, World

Image: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Sport