When the Gold family clears space in the trophy room before next month's Winter Olympics, they had better clear two spaces—just in case.
That's because Taylor and Arielle Gold, brother and sister, are Russia-bound for the Sochi Games as members of the U.S. Olympic snowboard team.
Both Colorado athletes qualified during a marathon series of Sprint Grand Prix events over the weekend at Mammoth Mountain in California.
The Golds are not the first siblings to qualify for the Olympics, and will not be the only relatives participating at Sochi.
But this probably is the first time two Golds from the same family will be going for gold on the world's grandest sporting stage.
On Sunday, before learning she had made the team, 17-year-old Arielle declared, via Twitter, that it was an important day for two reasons: "Big day today … Broncos vs Patriots. Oh, and they're announcing the U.S. Olympic team. #BroncosNation"
The NFL's Denver Broncos then dispatched the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, and the Golds began making travel plans.
Arielle will join fellow first-time Olympian Kaitlyn Farrington, as well as veteran gold medalists Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter, on the women's halfpipe team.
Taylor, 20, qualified Friday with a third-place finish in the third qualifier at Mammoth. Afterward he tweeted, "I am officially qualified for the Olympics. Beyond stoked! Thanks everyone who has helped me along the way."
He'll join Shaun White, Greg Bretz, and Danny Davis on the men's halfpipe team. It'll be the first participation in the Olympics for the Gold siblings.
Neither will be favored to win a gold medal in events that figure to be dominated by athletes from the U.S. Clark is the favorite among the women, and White is favored to win his third consecutive Olympic gold medal.
However, anything is possible.
Arielle, who is known for taking chances and nailing big tricks, enjoyed a breakout year in 2012, when she won silver medals in the halfpipe and slopestyle disciplines at the World Junior Olympic Games in Austria.
Last year she won a bronze at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado, not far from the family home in Steamboat Springs. She also posted first-place finishes at the European Open and FIS World Championships.
Taylor, who posted a victory at the 2013 U.S. Revolution Tour and qualified for the Olympic team with consistent elite-level performances, seems to be coming into his own this winter. To be sure, the world will get to know both Golds a lot better in the coming weeks.
–Pete Thomas, via GrindTv Snow
–Photos: Top image showing Taylor Gold is by Sarah Brunson/U.S. Snowboarding. Arielle Gold and Taylor Gold mug shots are via Facebook
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