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Shelley Osterloh ReportingIt turned out to be a pretty exciting day for our athletes. Team USA hauled in a couple more medals Sunday night. As they did four years ago, American snowboarders ruled in the half pipe.
U.S. snowboarders nearly had the sweep they did four years ago, winning gold and silver. And our Utah Olympian did well.
Nineteen-year-old Shaun White soared 25 feet above the half pipe, cleanly executing a series of jumps and earning big style points from the judges, enough to win a gold medal. Teammate Danny Kass, the 2002 silver medalist, earned his second silver.
We caught up to the pair just after they had been presented their medals and were still glowing with excitement.
Shaun White, Gold Medal Snowboarder: "Teeth marks in it, I know. They are cool. I love the writing on the sides."
Nicknamed "The Flying Tomato" for his flowing red hair, White said he had no idea just how special winning gold could be.
Shaun White, Olympic Gold Medalist: "What can I say? It's an Olympic gold medal. My parents are just.. your life has changed. And I can just see it now where everywhere I go they are going to introduce me as Shaun White, the gold medalist from snowboarding."
Danny Kass, Silver Medal Snowboarder: "It means snowboarding in so many words to me, just all the memories, all the accomplishments through it and all the fun. All the good times I've had with my friends snowboarding. Now it's in medal form."
And as tears welled in his eyes, speedskater Chad Hedrick was awarded his gold medal Sunday night for winning the 5000 meter race Saturday. He still has four more events to go.
Chad Hedrick, Olympic Gold Medal Speedskater: "So that's what this about, sharing special memories with your family and being successful and having fun along the way."
Sundance, Utah, speed skier Steven Nyman turned 23 today and celebrated with his first Olympic run, finishing 19th in the downhill.
Steven Nyman, Olympic Skier: "Today was wonderful. Of course, it was my birthday and had just a great time. To finish here and have all the fans cheering and my name flashing up on the screen was so much fun. And I just had an amazing feeling all day."
Nyman's friends awarded him a gold medal -- one they found at a souvenier shop. He still has a chance at the real thing in the Combined and Super G.
But Monday it's the men's 500 meter in speedskating and the women's half pipe.
