ZHANGJIAKOU, China — A trio of Americans won gold in the Olympics’ first mixed team aerials event Thursday, giving the United States its first medals in the freestyle skiing discipline in a dozen years.
Ashley Caldwell, Justin Schoenefeld and Pittsford native Christopher Lillis all earned their first Winter Games medals. Lillis’ back double full-full-double full was given the highest score of any trick in the finals, and the U.S. gold was assured when Schoenefeld followed with a clean back double full-full-full.
Christopher’s parents, Jamie and Bernie Lillis, watched proudly.
"I'm so happy for Chris and that he was able to pull it through,” said his mother, Jamie Lillis. “He did what he wanted to do. His first accomplishment on his list of tests that he set out for himself and just thrilled, thrilled, thrilled that he was able to pull it all out and do it."
"Our expectation was if he got a medal, that would be great,” said Bernie Lillis, Chris’ father. “…I realized he did a five-twist backflip, triple backflip, which is hardest trick allowed. And I mean, I looked over at his coach, I'm like, ‘did he actually just do five?’ And he's like, ‘yeah,’ and it was amazing. It's probably the highest score I've ever seen on any jump. And at that point, I just knew that Chris was in it to win. He wasn't there just for a medal. He wanted to win."
"Yup, no holding back," added Jamie Lillis.
"That jump he did in the finals was the best jump he's ever done in competition,” said John Kroetz, Chris’ former coach. “And it was just an amazing score."
What were mom and dad thinking while their son was so high in the air?
"Just land it,” they said. “Just land it."
The Lillis family is well known in the community for their triumphs and tragedies. Chris's brother Jon is also an Olympian, competing in the 2018 Olympics Freestyle Aerial Competition in Pyeongchang in 2018.
And they continue to mourn the loss of their little brother, Mikey, who passed away in his sleep when he was 17 years old back in 2017.
Mikey was following in the footsteps of his brothers, who say he lives on with them on and off the slopes.
"We always have him in our heart every day, and we carry him and I know Chris was carrying him,” said Jamie Lillis.
But for now, this family celebrates their blessings.
"It's a really proud time for everybody,” said Bernie Lillis. “Without everyone's support, none of that happens. And so like we often say, it's Team Lillis. And it wasn't because we had three boys. It was because it takes everybody.”
"To have a gold medal now in the Olympics is an achievement of a lifetime and an achievement that our entire area of Rochester, New York can be super proud of,” said Kroetz. “I mean, there's only four, to this point, there's only been four gold medals won by the whole U.S. team. So to have one of those four come right out of Rochester is pretty amazing."
And it's not over: Chris will compete again on Tuesday.
"He's got it dialed in,” said Jamie Lillis. “He's ready to take that jump; put him in prime position for next week for the individual event."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.