Team China aim for Big Air medal at 2022 Winter Olympics

World
Europe

Bud Keene, the new coach of the Chinese snowboard Big Air and slopestyle technique national team, on Thursday confirmed that his team will fight for a medal in the Big Air at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

"I signed a contract with China to win a medal in 2022. So, that's the goal," said the top U.S. coach at a press conference before the 2018 Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard Big Air World Cup, which will take place on November 23 and 24 in the Chinese capital.

The field prepared for the 2018 FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup in Beijing /VCG Photo

During her introduction of Keene, Zhou Jin, team manager of the Chinese Big Air and slopestyle technique squad, recalled Keene's impressive record of leading Team USA to win two gold and two silver medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. "We did every effort to have Bud Keene on our side because we really want to achieve something in Big Air."

Keene was apparently confident in realizing the goal as he talked about Hannah Teter, who won the Olympic gold medal in halfpipe in 2006. Back then, when they started working together, no one had heard about the 15-year-old Teter, but in three years, she was known worldwide as a new Olympic champion.

One of Keene's most successful athletes, Shaun White of the U.S. and his gold medal in men's halfpipe at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyongChang /VCG Photo

Keene spoke highly of the Chinese athletes. "Since starting with the China national team, I've been so impressed with the level of ability, quite honestly, that here, there's a lot of talent. They just need to be uncovered, nurtured and guided. I get a great bunch of kids. We'll be climbing that mountain."

On Keene's long record of success, the brightest star is undoubtedly Shaun White, whom Keene spent 10 years coaching. Under his belt, White has three Olympic gold medals, 10 ESPY Awards and 23 X Games medals.