Scotty Lago

American snowboarder Scotty Lago won a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Synopsis

Born in Seabrook, New Hampshire, on November 12, 1987, Scotty Lago began snowboarding at the age of six. Within a few years, he was regularly winning contests. International exposure came a decade later, when Lago won a gold medal in the halfpipe at the 2007 World Cup. Three years later, he took the bronze at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Early Years

American snowboarder Scotty Lago was born on November 12, 1987, in Seabrook, New Hampshire. His childhood home was located on a 60-acre parcel of land that his family has lived on since 1946.

Much of that land was used for farming of some kind or another. His grandfather had a small dairy operation and later a hay business, while his father sold firewood for a living.

Without any real mountains near his home, Lago was first exposed to snowboarding by watching the sport on television. Hooked by what he saw, he was only 6 years old when he asked for and received a board for Christmas. That winter, his parents took him up to Canada to ride for the first time.

"He was glued to it," his father, Mike, later recalled. "It never stopped from there."

Professional Success

At the age of 10, Lago had already developed a reputation as a local snowboarding phenom. He'd won an assortment of contests, leading to his family even starting a snowboarding company called Kapital.

His first significant international success came at the 2007 World Cup, where Lago came away as a gold medalist in the halfpipe opener. Two years later, he finished on top again, winning the quarterpipe at the U.S. Open.

While considered a bit of a long shot to make the U.S. Olympic team for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, Lago nailed a pair of runner-up finishes in the qualifiers behind Shaun White to secure a spot. The strong riding continued at the Games, where Lago surprised fans by earning a bronze medal.

Olympic Controversy

But Lago's Olympic run was quickly marred when a series of sexually suggestive photographs of him with a young woman appeared on the web. At the request of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, Lago cut his time at the Games short, returning home to New Hampshire.

"I'm sorry for the pictures," he said. "I'm sorry to the American public that I offended. I was out celebrating. It happened so quick."

Recent Success

Since the controversy, Lago has continued his strong run on the slopes, winning a pair of medals—sliver and bronze—at the 2013 World Cup.

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