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 Snowboarders like Shaun White can command millions of dollars in
endorsements, but the woman from Sunny Valley, Idaho had to make do
with more modest means when she set out on the path to Olympic gold.
As her stature as a snowboarder grew, the only way for her family to
fund her burgeoning career was to sell off the cattle on their
ranch, one at a time.
"When I started competing in bigger events, my dad had to sell his
cows just to get me to those bigger events across the country," the
24-year-old told a news conference.
"I think the cattle sales were Wednesday, so before I'd go to
school, I'd help my dad load a cow up into the trailer, maybe two,
and he'd take them to the cattle sale and auction them off.
"My parents have been backing me from day one, and I'm sure they do
not miss those cows today."
 A surprise winner ahead of Australia's defending champion Torah
Bright and compatriot Kelly Clark, the 2002 gold medalist,
Farrington told reporters that her background as a cowgirl helped
her become an Olympic champion.
Farrington had to come through both rounds of qualifying before
reaching the final, but that was by no means the first obstacle she
had faced in her career.
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She suffered several knee injuries in her teenage years, and
finished the 2011-12 season with her wrist in a protective cast
following a fracture.
A year later, she broke her thumb so badly in a training run fall in
Quebec that she required surgery to insert pins. She was back riding
the following day.
"Growing up on a ranch made me the person I am today," she said. "It
definitely made me a tough girl. As my parents have been saying this
whole journey, 'just cowgirl up'. That's kind of what I've gotta
do."
Farrington showed plenty of frontier spirit in the halfpipe final as
well.
"Today I fought to get in finals, I did all three rounds, so to come
out on top, I couldn't believe it," she said.
"After my second run I had to sit there and watch all the other
girls come down. Once I knew I was on a podium spot, I was so happy
about that."
(Editing by Toby Davis)
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