OLYMPIC SKICROSS

French sweep medals in skicross at Sochi Games

2/20/2014

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia  — Jean Frederic Chapuis led France’s first medals sweep in Winter Olympics history by taking gold in skicross, while Arnaud Bovolenta won silver and Jonathan Midol captured bronze.

The three quickly bolted ahead of the fourth finalist in today's race, Canada’s Brady Lehman. Lehman briefly passed Midol for the third position but wiped out two-thirds of the way down the mountain, meaning the French only had to stay upright to make history.

They came to the line single-file, with Midol falling just before the stripe and crossing on his backside.

The French have mastered this course.

Earlier in the week, Pierre Vaultier won men’s snowboardcross to give his country its first Olympic victory in that sport’s version of side-by-side racing.