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Russia’s Dmitry Loginov makes history in winning world championship gold in parallel giant slalom snowboard event

The 19-year-old became the youngest world champion ever in the history of the sport

Dmitry Loginov of Russia celebrates after winning the men's snowboard parallel giant slalom event at the freestyle ski and snowboard world championships, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)

On a blustery winter afternoon on the slopes of Park City, a 19-year-old made history.

Russia’s Dmitry Loginov became the youngest world champion to ever win the parallel giant slalom snowboard race Monday at Park City Mountain Resort. The teenager, who competed at last year’s 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, beat Slovenia’s Tim Mastnak for the gold medal in the 2019 FIS World Championships.

“I can’t believe it,” Loginov said through a translator on the FIS website. “I’m only 19. I’m the youngest world champion of all time, and it’s just incredible. I’ve competed in conditions like this lots of times, so I was well prepared for today. I knew I needed to to do well in qualifications and I was able to do that, and now I’m the world champion.”

Germany’s Selina Joerg, who took second in Pyeongchang last year, won the women’s gold medal Monday, topping Russia’s Natalia Soboleva in the final race.

“It feels amazing. I can’t believe it,” Joerg told the FIS website. “Last year the silver medal at the Olympic was amazing, and then this season I’ve already got one win in the World Cup, but now to be on top here of the world championships … I can’t find words for that.”

The parallel giant slalom event features two snowboarders racing down a course side by side in back-to-back runs. After the first race, the second-place finisher starts the second race on a time delay upon switching spots on the course. The racers with the best combined time win.

The parallel slalom snowboard world championships is set for Tuesday morning in Park City. The snowboard big air competition is slated for Tuesday night at Canyons in Park City.