Sochi Olympics: U.S.-born Vic Wild wins second gold medal for Russia

SOCHI, Russia — For snowboarder Vic Wild, the difference to make up after one run in the final of the parallel slalom — 0.12 seconds — was nothing like the deficit he faced the other day in the parallel giant slalom final, more than half a second.

The American-born Wild, now racing for Russia, powered down the course and defeated Zan Kosir of Slovenia to win another gold medal, by a margin of 0.11. It was his second gold medal in four days.

Had he competed here for the United States, Wild would have been the most successful American athlete at these Olympics.

Wild’s wife, Russian snowboarder Alena Zavarzina, who won bronze in the women’s parallel giant slalom, stood near the mixed zone, sharing an emotional moment with Wild’s brother Mike.

“Can you believe this?” said his mother, Carol Wild-Delano. “I don’t think he gets tired. I think it’s adrenaline. He gets more and more focused each run.”

She saw him after his first gold-medal performance, and said: “I haven’t seen him smile that big in years. Years. Years.”

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