Sports | 2014 Sochi Olympics This American Just Won Gold—for Russia Vic Wild didn't get support he needed from US, he says By Evann Gastaldo Posted Feb 19, 2014 11:57 AM CST Copied Men's snowboard parallel giant slalom medalists, from left, Switzerland's Nevin Galmarini, silver, Russia's Vic Wild, gold, and Slovenia's Zan Kosir, bronze, at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Vic Wild is an American, born and raised in Washington state—but the gold medal he won at the Sochi Olympics today was for none other than ... Russia. Why? Wild decided to compete for Russia because his event, men's snowboarding parallel giant slalom, wasn't getting much support in the US, which prefers to invest in other snowboarding events that get more American attention. (ESPN describes Wild's event as "Europe-centric.") "I didn’t have the support I needed," Wild tells ABC News. So he married Russian girlfriend Alena Zavarzina, who he started dating five years ago, gained Russian citizenship, and made the Russian team. The kicker: Zavarzina also medaled today, winning a bronze in the women's version of the event. Read These Next RIP, Chuck Mangione. The police files in the Idaho murders are extremely unsettling. Will we be calling 'artificial intelligence' something else? Doctors allegedly played "music bingo" as a man died. Report an error