Special Olympic picture: There is hardly any other sport like that - Mittenwalderin right in the middle

Created: 2022-02-09 8:39 p.m

By: Andreas Knobloch

Not only the three first place winners celebrated the end of the competition, but all finalists together.

© IMAGO/UPI Photo

The Mittenwald snowboarder Annika Morgen is living her dream at the Olympics and shows a special picture that rarely exists in sports.

Update from February 9, 8:30 p.m.:

Annika Morgan caused a sensation at the Olympics.

The 19-year-old from Mittenwald (Upper Bavaria) made it to the Olympic finals for women snowboarders.

And in the final she had every chance of maybe even getting a medal.

But two falls prevented her from doing so, but she still ended up in a respectable eighth place, the best placement ever by a German.

Shortly before the final, Morgan even missed her alarm clock, causing her to oversleep.

A wild day that ended emotionally.

As in almost no other sport, all athletes celebrated the end of the competition together with a big group hug.

Morgan shared the snap with her on Instagram (swipe or press the arrow).

She described the moment: "So glad I'm part of the snowboarding community and we're showing the world our close friendship and,

"I overslept badly": Mittenwalderin missed the alarm clock before the Olympic final and fell twice - she still cheered

First report from February 6th:

Beijing – It should be the big day in the career of young Mittenwalderin Annika Morgan.

The 19-year-old snowboarder made it into the grand Olympic final on February 5th.

In the slopestyle discipline, in which the snowboarders have to jump over large hills and show tricks, Morgan managed to qualify for the final day.

The German had apparently put the excitement down, because she slept peacefully - even longer than planned.

Did you oversleep the 2022 Olympics?

Annika Morgan from Mittenwald with an amusing anecdote

Contrary to what one might think, Morgan wasn't pawing around her room early in the morning, she was still asleep.

And that longer than wanted.

"I overslept badly," she admitted, according to the dpa.

She gave away half an hour in bed, which didn't make her nervous. "It was totally relaxed," said Morgan.

Three final runs were on the schedule.

She already set her best mark of 64.13 points in the error-free first of three final runs: "It was so much fun, I would like to continue driving." She has to wait a few more days for that: From February 14 Morgan has another chance to surprise the world elite in the Big Air competition.

Olympia: First the alarm clock, then a phone call – Annika Morgan falls twice but is still “happy”

Then her brother called and predicted a medal.

A Facetime call from Ethan, himself a professional snowboarder, said according to dpa: "Annika, if you land that, you could get a medal," he said expectantly.

But then Morgan fell in the next two rounds.

The final eighth place is still considered a respectable success for the young Morgan and the German snowboard sport.

It was the best German Olympic result in this discipline.

Annika Morgan can grin.

© IMAGO / GEPA pictures

Meanwhile, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott was already making history in slopestyle: Thanks to a furious last run, she secured New Zealand's first gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

She won ahead of Julia Marino (USA) and Tess Coady (Australia).

Morgan watched Sadowski-Synnott's spectacular goal jump, mouth wide open in amazement and cheering loudly.

It seemed as if she didn't know what to do with her feelings - after an achievement that also made her brother proud.