Excitement Builds for Red Gerard at the Winter Olympics
In Livigno, Italy, excitement is ramping up as U.S. snowboarder Red Gerard prepares to compete in the Winter Olympics, drawing considerable support from home. After his family missed the previous Winter Games due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, they’re back in full force this year, bringing a group of approximately 40 supporters to cheer him on during his events. This marks a significant increase from the 20 relatives who celebrated his slopestyle gold medal triumph in PyeongChang eight years ago.
Gerard’s Olympic Journey
At just 25 years old, Gerard is gearing up for his third Olympic showdown. He will kick off his competitions in the big air event on Thursday before heading back to compete in slopestyle on February 18. His close-knit family, which includes sister Tieghan, a food blogger who plans to host a festive family dinner in Milan during the Games, is eager to make up for lost time, having felt disappointed not to attend the 2022 Beijing Olympics where Gerard finished fourth.
Family Support and Atmosphere
The camaraderie amongst the Gerards is palpable, with teammates humorously noting that with such a large contingent of family members on site, spectators might spot a Gerard more easily than a local. Despite the larger entourage, Gerard anticipates a more subdued atmosphere this time around; he described his brothers, now fathers themselves, as having settled down compared to their more boisterous celebrations in 2018.
“Everyone’s kind of tamed out a little bit, but you never know what you’re getting with them,”
he shared, hinting at the unpredictable spirit of his family gatherings.
Looking Ahead
As the anticipation builds for Gerard’s events, all eyes will be on how he channels the energy from such a supportive and enlarged family presence at the Olympic snow park.
— AP Winter Olympics coverage continues.
