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At 44 years old, Nick Baumgartner approaches snowboard cross *** little differently than younger competitors. After competing in 4 Olympic Games and winning gold this time around, the former National Guardsman is at ease. Nick Baumgartner’s intentions for Milan are clear. For me, it’s about now having fun, right? I got the medal, so the pressure’s gone, and I get to go and have *** good time and enjoy it and take it all in, and that. Makes me dangerous, even at 44 years old. 44 years young, mixing it up with the jumps, bumps, and turns of snowboard cross described in *** way that only Baumgartner can. It’s like *** full-on car accident downhill. It’s the craziest thing. But it’s not all brawn. There’s plenty of strategy from finding your line to drafting behind the racer ahead, and there’s *** good old fashioned gamesmanship. Don’t count the old guy. And they’re super serious and pressure, and I’m cracking jokes. And so then I look over at my competitor, like in 2022, I looked over at my competitor that I passed who was 20 years old, and I said, Elliott. Don’t you go doing something stupid like getting so far ahead of me that I can’t draft you and pass you. And he’s like, shut up, Bo, and I’m laughing because I’m in the space I need to be. And that’s exactly what he did. Now the wily veteran hopes to ride that same experience to Milan. And now I’m smiling, giggling, having *** good time, and when you see me laughing and smiling up top, you’re in trouble. How about this? At 40, Baumgartner became the oldest Olympic medalist ever, but you can never tell. On the road to Milan Cortina, I’m Jason Newton.
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At 44, Olympic snowboarder Nick Baumgartner approaches the snowboard cross with a unique blend of experience and humor, aiming to leverage his past successes for a strong performance in Milan.On Thursday, he finished 7th overall in the men’s snowboard cross event. He missed out on competing in the final snowboard cross heat by a mere .08 seconds, according to reports.Baumgartner, a former National Guardsman, competes with a different mindset than his younger counterparts, having participated in five Olympic Games and won gold. “For me, it’s about now having fun, right? I got the medal, so the pressure’s gone, and I get to go and have a good time and enjoy it and take it all in. And that makes me dangerous. Even at 44 years old,” Baumgartner said, leading up to the Milan Cortina Games.Baumgartner describes the intense nature of snowboard cross in his own words.”It’s like a full-on car accident, downhill. It’s the craziest thing,” he said.Despite the physical demands, Baumgartner emphasizes the importance of strategy, from finding the right line to drafting behind competitors, and he employs good old-fashioned gamesmanship.”They’re super serious, and I’m cracking jokes. And so I look over at my competitor, like in 2022, I looked over at my competitor that I passed, who was 20 years old, and I said, ‘Elliot, don’t you go doing something stupid, like getting so far ahead of me that I can’t draft you and pass you.’ And he’s like, ‘Shut up, Baum.’ And I’m laughing because I’m in the space I need to be,” Baumgartner said.The seasoned veteran hoped to bring that same experience to Milan.”Now I’m smiling, giggling, and having a good time. And when you see me laughing and smiling up top, you’re in trouble,” he said.Baumgartner became the oldest Olympic medalist ever at 40, yet his youthful spirit remains evident.
At 44, Olympic snowboarder Nick Baumgartner approaches the snowboard cross with a unique blend of experience and humor, aiming to leverage his past successes for a strong performance in Milan.
On Thursday, he finished 7th overall in the men’s snowboard cross event. He missed out on competing in the final snowboard cross heat by a mere .08 seconds, according to reports.
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Baumgartner, a former National Guardsman, competes with a different mindset than his younger counterparts, having participated in five Olympic Games and won gold.
“For me, it’s about now having fun, right? I got the medal, so the pressure’s gone, and I get to go and have a good time and enjoy it and take it all in. And that makes me dangerous. Even at 44 years old,” Baumgartner said, leading up to the Milan Cortina Games.
Baumgartner describes the intense nature of snowboard cross in his own words.
“It’s like a full-on car accident, downhill. It’s the craziest thing,” he said.
Despite the physical demands, Baumgartner emphasizes the importance of strategy, from finding the right line to drafting behind competitors, and he employs good old-fashioned gamesmanship.
“They’re super serious, and I’m cracking jokes. And so I look over at my competitor, like in 2022, I looked over at my competitor that I passed, who was 20 years old, and I said, ‘Elliot, don’t you go doing something stupid, like getting so far ahead of me that I can’t draft you and pass you.’ And he’s like, ‘Shut up, Baum.’ And I’m laughing because I’m in the space I need to be,” Baumgartner said.
The seasoned veteran hoped to bring that same experience to Milan.
“Now I’m smiling, giggling, and having a good time. And when you see me laughing and smiling up top, you’re in trouble,” he said.
Baumgartner became the oldest Olympic medalist ever at 40, yet his youthful spirit remains evident.
