Anderson takes gold, completes U.S. sweep of snowboard slopestyle

Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Jamie Anderson gifted United States its second gold medal in snowboard of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, as she defended her title in a delayed women's slopestyle final Monday.

Anderson became the first woman to win two Olympic gold medals in snowboard with her unparalleled 83.00-point performance in the first run. She also equalled four other snowboarders, including her compatriot Shaun White, to win two gold medals at the Winter Olympic Games.

The United States has so far clinched 12 gold medals in total in snowboard since winning its first back in 2002.

"I'm feeling so happy. I've gone through so much last year just preparing for the Games and defending the gold is definitely not an easy position to be in," said Anderson. "I had a lot of pressure and I'm just so proud of myself."

The final on Monday morning had to be delayed due to bad weather, with the third run of all finalists canceled.

"It's hard. We have to be so intuitive with the weather, the course, with how you feel. I'm just so happy I put one down and I really didn't think it was going to last over to the second run," added Anderson.

Laurie Blouin was placed second in 76.33, earning Canada a medal in a second women's snowboard event, as the nation's three previous medals all came from the snowboard cross.

Enni Rukajarvi, who finished in 75.38, became the first Finnish snowboarder to win two medals at the Winter Games, adding a bronze to last edition's silver in Sochi.

Prior to Anderson's victory, teenage sensation Redmond Gerard of United States won the men's counterpart on Sunday, becoming the first medalist at the Olympic Winter Games born after Jan. 1, 2000.