Jenny Jones wins Great Britain's first snow medal at Winter Olympics

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- British snowboarder Jenny Jones made history by becoming the first athlete from Great Britain to win a medal in a snow event at the Winter Olympics when she took home the bronze medal on Sunday in the slopestyle competition.

England previously won 22 medals over the course of 90 years before Jones took home the 23rd yesterday.

Jamie Anderson of the United States won the event with a score of 95.25 and Finland's Enni Rukajarvi placed second by scoring 92.50.

"I can't believe it," said Jones, 33. "I was just waiting because I knew I was going to drop down and down [the leaderboard] but I didn't know how far. I'm just so happy right now. I feel so proud to get on the podium. A few said, 'Is she past it?' but I did what I could and, thankfully, it got me on there.”

Until now England had only won medals in events such as figure skating, curling, skeleton and bobsledding.

"I absolutely did not think I would ever be in this position back then, when I was a chalet maid. I was cooking breakfasts, cleaning toilets. I was having a great time, I was snowboarding every day and that was amazing,” Jones said. "It's still sinking in, the history part. Hopefully I'll be in a few pub quizzes now."

In addition to working as a chalet maid, Jones has also been employed at a cardboard factory and at a doughnut shop in order to help fund her athletic career.

"It feels amazing," added Jones. "I cannot believe it, I just can't believe it. I knew I was going to drop [from first place] but I didn't know how far. I am just so happy. "It was so difficult waiting. I thought I did my best run and landed it as best as I could."

[BBC]