If you’ve been paying attention to anything lately, you no doubt are aware that 17 year old American Red Gerard won the United State’s first gold medal at the Winter Olympics. But as amazing as the ending was for Gerard’s day, the beginning was not so good, as detailed in a story from Jeff Passan at Yahoo Sports. It’s a good article and I would recommend reading it. But I’m just here to focus on one part.
…and one [day] that didn’t exactly start as planned. Gerard had spent the previous few days hanging with his roommate and teammate, Kyle Mack, watching Netflix, trying to keep a low profile. He had zonked out the previous night during an episode of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Gerard was supposed to get up at 6 a.m. At 6:20, Mack said, “Red, you out of bed yet?” He wasn’t.
Eventually, he rolled out, grabbed an egg sandwich with ham, avocado and cheese, panicked that he couldn’t find his puffy jacket, borrowed Mack’s and headed to the hill, where his future awaited him.
Even at the Olympics, the 17 year old kid is still acting just like that, a kid. Staying up late and falling asleep watching Netflix*. Misplacing a jacket, which in this case was essentially a part of a uniform. A uniform that he intended to use to compete for an OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. No idea how that happens, but I love it.
*Where’s the research, Passan? Brooklyn Nine-Nine is not available on Netflix. Maybe an inconsequential part of the story but still. Details, man, details.
This kid (and his family) is just stealing the Olympics. There’s the now famous story of his family sending him Snapchats of themselves pre-gaming his competition by shotgunning beers at 8:30 in the morning.
Red Gerard said he got a Snapchat this morning around 8:30 a.m. from his group of 17 people that is in Pyeongchang, South Korea to support him for the Games: "They were all shotgunning beers on the way to the mountains." pic.twitter.com/JORk5m3pH5
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) February 11, 2018
Then of course there’s Red’s reaction after winning gold (NSFW language)
https://twitter.com/GoBobbo/status/962523309018624000
This kid’s doing it right, and I hope he sticks around for a long, long time.
Gerard will next be competing in big air. Qualifying heats for the event’s Olympic debut are scheduled for February 20th at 7:30 PM ET, with the final on February 23rd at 8 PM ET.
