Scotty James is a favorite to win gold in Friday’s finals for the men’s snowboard halfpipe. He’s also a champion at dancing down hallways.
WASHINGTON — He’s not the British prime minister — or an actor portraying one — but Australian snowboarder Scotty James might outshine them on the dance floor.
James, who is a favorite to win the men’s snowboard halfpipe on Friday, posted a video of himself on social media recreating Hugh Grant’s famous dance in the movie “Love Actually.”
The video opens with the snowboarder standing at a window in Italy, wearing a track suit that says “Australia” across the back, while the opening notes play for the Pointer Sisters’ “Jump (For My Love).”
“I think you’ll love this,” says an announcer. “A golden oldie for some golden Aussies.”
Anyone who’s seen Grant’s dance knows what happens next. James starts to move his hips to the beat of the song, then his arms, and then goes into full dance mode down a flight of stairs and across a hallway.
James posted the video Feb. 7 with the caption: “Love, actually, is the green and gold.”
Watch the video below or at this link.
James has amassed a record-tying eight X Games halfpipe titles, five wins at the prestigious Laax Open, four world championships, the bronze and silver from the Olympics and much more. This might be his last, best chance to finally win Olympic gold.
He has famously been passed over: At the Beijing Games, he conducted a clinic in technical riding on the halfpipe at Secret Garden but got edged out by the defending champion, Ayumu Hirano, and his triple cork.
“Winning an Olympics would be amazing. I don’t think I need it to validate who I am as a snowboarder,” James said. “I think I’m doing that just by the way I ride my board and how I interpret riding myself.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.