Alessandro Hämmerle Clinches Repeat Snowboard Cross Gold in Photo-Finish
In a chaotic sprint down the course at Livigno, Alessandro Hämmerle produced another heart-stopping finale to claim back-to-back gold medals in the men’s snowboard cross on Thursday, February 12, 2026 ET. The race played out like a tightly wound thriller: Hämmerle found himself boxed in for most of the run, then surged on the final jump to edge out his rivals by the narrowest of margins.
Chaos on the Course, Precision at the Finish
Snowboard cross is a collision of speed, strategy and luck, and this final delivered all three. Four riders navigated sweeping turns and a series of jumps in close proximity, with passing opportunities limited and margins evaporating as riders jostled for position. Hämmerle spent the bulk of the race in third place, biding his time while the front pair traded lines and momentum. On the approach to the last jump he found the opening he needed, taking the feature cleaner and carrying just enough speed to slip ahead in the dying meters.
The victory was decided by inches — a reflection of both Hämmerle’s timing and the razor-thin separation that defines elite snowboard cross. Observers noted that the final leap and the tiny advantages gained in the air were decisive; the winner’s knack for finding the best line at the crucial moment again proved decisive.
Podium Placements and Semifinal Highlights
The podium rounded out with Eliot Grondin claiming silver and Jacob Dusek taking bronze, each earning their place after tense elimination rounds. Earlier in the session, Alain Chollet delivered a noteworthy performance by winning his semifinal heat, securing a lane in the final and contributing to a day of intense, edge-of-your-seat racing.
While the finish supplied drama, it also underscored how difficult it is to pass cleanly in snowboard cross when riders are tightly grouped. Hämmerle’s gold repeats a pattern from four years ago when his margin of victory was similarly narrow, suggesting a consistent ability to perform under pressure and execute at decisive moments.
Aftermath and Looking Ahead
The win cements Hämmerle’s status as a leading figure in snowboard cross, blending tactical patience with explosive execution. For the silver and bronze medalists, the result offers both validation and motivation: narrow defeats in events like this often presage renewed pushes for the top spot in future competitions.
Interest in snowboard cross across the host nation and beyond has also brought attention to a broad roster of athletes whose names are circulating among fans and commentators — among them giulia zardini lacedelli — as enthusiasts look ahead to mixed-team events and other alpine snowboard competitions later in the program.
As the Winter Games progress, athletes and teams will dissect the tiny margins that decided the Livigno final: line choice on jumps, gate approach, and split-second decisions when riders collide for position. Those details will inform training and tactics in the months to come, and they set the stage for more high-stakes showdowns on the snow.
