Top five Winter Olympics breakthrough stars from Pyeongchang

David Cooper - Writer 15:14 25/02/2018
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  • New stars have been born over the course of the past two weeks at the Winter Olympics.

    Here, we look at five such young talents who delivered on the biggest stage of their respective sports.

    We kick things off on the slopes…

    ESTER LEDECKA

    The 22-year-old Czech became the first woman to capture gold medals in two different sports at the same Winter Games, with the haul really being the making of her. She first captured the women’s super-G alpine skiing title, in what was a huge shock, and then topped that by winning the snowboarding parallel giant slalom competition. The two-time world snowboarding champion is now known as the Queen of Snow.

    TOPSHOT - Gold medallist Czech Republic's Ester Ledecka celebrates on the podium during the victory ceremony for the women's snowboard parallel giant slalom event at the Phoenix Park during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 24, 2018 in Pyeongchang. / AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE (Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images)

    CHLOE KIM

    Just 17, the American became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal when she triumphed in the halfpipe in her first Winter Games. Kim, who also won two golds at the Youth Games two years ago, really realised her potential on the biggest stage and is set to become one of the most-marketable athletes given her huge rise in Pyeongchang.

    GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 13: (BROADCAST-OUT) Gold medalist in Snowboard Ladies' Halfpipe Chloe Kim of the United States poses for a portrait on the Today Show Set on February 13, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)

    ALINA ZAGITOVA

    The 15-year-old’s meteoric rise has been the stuff of dreams. Indeed, the figure skater pipped fellow Russian and the more experienced Evgenia Medvedeva in the ladies’ individual event, recording a world-record score of 82.92. In an Olympics where the spotlight has been on Russian athletes for differing reasons, she became the first from her country to claim gold.

    Russia's Alina Zagitova performs during the figure skating gala event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Oval in Gangneung on February 25, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOV (Photo credit should read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

    ZOI SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT

    Became New Zealand’s youngest-ever Olympic medallist, at 16 years and 353 days, after her bronze-placed finish in the inaugural Big Air snowboard competition. Compatriot Nico Porteous, also aged 16, finished third in the freestyle skiing. Given the fact the Kiwis had not won a medal for 26 years before the Games, they’ll both be a pretty big deal when they arrive back home.

    PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 25: Flag bearers Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous of New Zealand pose for a photo on day sixteen of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

    NATHAN CHEN

    The 18-year-old American won bronze in the Olympic figure skating team event but after initially performing poorly in the free skate segment, he made Olympic history by becoming the first athlete to attempt six quads in one program and land five of them cleanly. His score of 215.08 in the free skate, the highest in Olympic history, elevated him from 17th to fifth in the rankings. If only he had started better…

    GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 17: (BROADCAST-OUT) United States Men's Figure Skater Nathan Chen poses for a portrait with his bronze medal in the team event on the Today Show Set on February 17, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)

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