Teenager Redmond Gerard claimed the United States’ first gold medal of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games with victory in the men’s slopestyle snowboarding event at Phoenix Park today ©Getty Images

Teenager Redmond Gerard claimed the United States’ first Olympic gold medal of Pyeongchang 2018 with victory in the men’s slopestyle snowboarding event at Phoenix Park today.

The 17-year-old, the youngest athlete in the competition, jumped from eighth place to first with a score of 87.16 points in his third and final run.

He had earlier managed just 43.33 points in his first run and 46.40 in his second.

Gerard becomes the youngest US snowboarder to win an Olympic medal since the sport made its Games debut at Nagano 1998.

"It was awesome," he said of his winning run.

"I just told myself that I want to land a run and I was a little bummed on my first two runs because I fell a couple of times.

"I'm just so happy that it all worked out."

Canada's Max Parrot pushed America's Redmond Gerard close, but ultimately had to settle for the silver medal ©Getty Images
Canada's Max Parrot pushed America's Redmond Gerard close, but ultimately had to settle for the silver medal ©Getty Images

Canadians Max Parrott and Mark McMorris won silver and bronze medals with scores of 86.00 and 85.20 points respectively.

Norway’s Ståle  Sandbech, the silver medallist at Sochi 2014 ahead of McMorris, finished fourth.

Compatriot Marcus Kleveland came sixth behind New Zealand’s Carlos Garcia Knight, the leader of the first run.

The US has now won gold in men’s slopestyle snowboarding at both of its Olympic appearances.

Sage Kotsenburg, now retired, triumphed in the event’s debut at Sochi 2014.

Snowboarding action at Pyeongchang 2018 is scheduled to continue tomorrow.

Medals will be awarded in the women’s slopestyle event.