“The first Olympics I had no pressure and I honestly did not know how big a deal it was to be there,” Gerard said. “That made me not overthink it and I was just out there having fun.”

Gerard has come a long way in a short time – four years to be exact. The sport of snowboarding has blossomed too, becoming one of the fan favourite events of the Winter Olympics since being introduced in 1998.

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As the youngest snowboard Olympic gold medallist in history, Gerard has handled himself like a professional from day one. He began competing in the amateur ranks in 2011, and started snowboarding at the age of two, competing with his older siblings on the slopes of Colorado (he is the second youngest of seven children).

He said he was honoured to be a part of a growing sport that has gone from fringe to mainstream in a matter of years. Once reserved for counterculture kids looking to break from skiing on the slopes, snowboarding is now fully established and features highly skilled athletes competing internationally for lucrative prize money.

“I’m stoked for the future of snowboarding,” Gerard said, when asked where he thinks the sport is going. “I’ve grown up on it and already see changes with how some of the younger guys choose to attack different routes and slopes. Elite talent is always going to be in this sport, so it’ll be fun to see new styles and maybe how some of the older ones evolve.”

Now Gerard is sponsored by major brands such as Burton, Quiksilver and Oakley, and he has matured as an athlete as well. This includes incorporating aspect such as diet, sports psychology and recovery into his routine. Mental preparation is something he said was equally important as physically making sure he is ready to go for training runs or competitions.

Snowboarders risk serious injury every time they hit the slopes or try a new trick. The sport is incredibly dangerous and Gerard said it was important he stayed focused but relaxed.

“I also take time to decompress after practices and competitions and eat healthy,” he said. “Elite recovery is made up of so many different things but I’d say diet, mindfulness and quality sleep are three of the most important. I also do pretty intense stretch work with my personal trainer that keeps my body in the best shape possible and helps me prevent injury.”

The world of recovery has become big business in the sporting landscape. Athletes are now spending millions of dollars when it comes to keeping their bodies in peak condition. LeBron James and football star Sergio Ramos go as far as to spend time in hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers, and other stars regularly do cryotherapy or red light therapy to help with recovery.

Gerard said for him the biggest thing is just making sure he gets quality sleep, which has been scientifically proven to help athletes compete at peak performance. Studies have shown professionals can need up to 12 hours of sleep a night given the vigorous demands of training.

“Being on the slopes and performing in the top competitions in the world requires my full attention and ability,” Gerard said. “There’s nothing more important in my preparation than rest and recovery, and Eight Sleep [a temperature controlled bed] is a brand I’ve been using that takes my rest to another level. I’ve been using the Pod Pro which is able to regulate my body temperature and provide sleep analysis so I know exactly how well I’m sleeping and ensuring I’m ready for my rides. It’s never a good day when I don’t sleep well.”

However, Beijing 2022 will present a whole new host of challenges. The Winter Olympics will be sealed off from the world and even the rest of China, as organisers employ a “closed-loop management system” and a playbook that will require athletes to get tested daily for Covid-19.

“Covid is definitely an aspect we can’t ignore but once I’m on the course it’s not something I’m thinking about. I just have to go out there and do what I’ve been doing my whole life – board with confidence. All of us athletes need to stay diligent and focused when we’re in our downtime but as for the competitions themselves, there won’t be too much that’s different.”

Slopestyle requires riders to put together a number of highly technical and demanding tricks back to back on a downhill course that plays out like a vertical skateboard park. Gerard is known for his ability to “spin” with the best of them, however he will face much stiffer competition than in South Korea – he is ranked fifth in the World Cup standings behind countryman Sean Fitzsimons, who will also compete in Beijing.

Regardless, Gerard is not sure there will necessarily be more pressure on him to deliver another run for the ages.

“I’d say it’s a little bit of both,” he said. “I’ll definitely feel less pressure when I go out there since I’ve got one under my belt, and of course I would love to win again. I know I can win as long as I’m having fun and I’m confident so I just try to take it run by run and see where I finish. I feel confident and in a good space now so I’m excited about these upcoming Games.”