Bristol Mountain ski coach John Kroetz was beaming with pride following Chris Lillis’ gold medal win at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing earlier this month.
Kroetz has coached Lillis since childhood. He said the watch party he attended erupted in excitement when Lillis landed a back double full-full-double full jump in the first-ever mixed team aerials event on February 10, 2022, according to NYup.com.
Kroetz began his Bristol Mountain program to train athletes in freestyle skiing in 2002. Three other freestyle skiers coached by Kroetz have also competed in the Olympics: Morgan Schild and Jon Lillis, Chris’ older brother, both competed in 2018. Dylan Walczyk joined Chris Lillis in Beijing this winter, where he placed 16th in the men’s freestyle mogul competition.
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