1 Little Mistake Dashes U.S. Snowboarder's Olympic Dream At 40

Nick Baumgartner lamented the one little mistake that caused his elimination in the quarterfinals of the mens snowboard cross event at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Thursday.

I dont think people know much you put into this, the 40-year-old from Iron River, Michigan, told NBC in an emotional post-race interview.

I put so much time and effort, and then one little mistake and its gone, he continued. I mean, Im running out of chances. I got so much support back home and I feel like I let them down. This one stings. This one hurts.

Baumgartner in Beijing became the oldest snowboarder to ever represent the U.S. on the Olympic stage. This is his fourth consecutive Olympics. He has not medaled previously, placing fourth in boardercross in Pyeongchang 2018.

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Asked about his future in the sport, Baumgartner defiantly said he was not stopping on this.

Ive got to do something better to end with, he said. Oh man, I just feel bad. So much effort and its just a big letdown and I mean, Ill keep going. I mean, its what we do. Fight through the adversity. But this one stings, stings a lot.

\"I'm 40-years-old, I'm running out of chances...I ain't stopping on this. I've gotta do something better to end with.\"

An emotional Nick Baumgartner pledges to keep going after he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of his 4th Olympics. pic.twitter.com/8PXW3zoC4d

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"I'm 40-years-old, I'm running out of chances...I ain't stopping on this. I've gotta do something better to end with."

An emotional Nick Baumgartner pledges to keep going after he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of his 4th Olympics. pic.twitter.com/8PXW3zoC4d
NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 10, 2022