Metal The Secret To Gold Medallist's Success

You might not have heard of Sage Kotsenburg yet, but as the winner of a gold medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics, the snowboarder is fast becoming a big name.

The Utah native bagged a gold at this past weekend’s snowboard slopestyle event – and his recipe for success is one that’s particularly close to our hearts.

“Judas Priest, Metallica and Slayer,” he tells Today.com of his pre-competition musical diet. “I just started bumping that stuff and getting into a nice mindset for the day.”

Well, it obviously worked, so best get your applications for the next Olympic event in now, eh? Eh?!

Merlin was promoted to Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has written for Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.