giulia zardini lacedelli Mentioned as Haemmerle Holds Off Grondin in Photo-Finish at Milano Cortina
Alessandro Haemmerle once again proved unstoppable in men's snowboardcross, fending off a late charge from Eliot Grondin to successfully defend his Olympic crown at Milano Cortina 2026 on Thursday (ET). The finish was razor-thin, echoing the drama of the previous Games, and left the field scrambling for every inch as Austria celebrated gold and bronze.
Thrilling rematch ends with a familiar result
In a race that mirrored their rivalry from four years earlier, Haemmerle and Grondin crossed the line separated by mere fractions of a second. Grondin appeared poised to reverse the Beijing outcome as he surged over the final roller, but Haemmerle closed the gap in the final meters and extended his board to claim the win. The margin was minimal — a testament to the sport’s demand for precision and split-second timing.
The final quartet came down to a frantic battle where every line and bump mattered. Jakob Dusek, also of Austria, secured bronze after a gritty performance that kept France’s Aidan Chollet just off the podium. With all four riders in contention approaching the finish, the final moments delivered a classic snowboardcross photo finish that will be replayed in highlight reels for days.
Veteran presence and season context
Veteran American Nick Baumgartner, 44, continued to defy age expectations by reaching the semifinals before being eliminated. His run reinforced a career defined by longevity and high-stakes performances at the sport’s biggest events.
The battle between Haemmerle and Grondin also carries broader season implications. Grondin arrived with momentum from a dominant season, having claimed the 2024–25 Crystal Globe and the 2025 world championship, where Haemmerle finished with bronze. That rivalry, now renewed on the Olympic stage, underscores a competitive arc that has pushed both men to refine tactics and course management under pressure.
Format, aftermath and what to watch next
Snowboardcross demands not only speed but strategic positioning as four riders negotiate banked turns, rollers and jumps in bracket-style heats. The top two finishers from each round move forward, culminating in the high-stakes final where margins shrink and risks escalate.
Haemmerle’s successful title defense cements his standing as a clutch performer in one-off finals, while Grondin’s continued podium presence signals that their rivalry will likely shape the discipline through the next season and beyond. Dusek’s bronze provides Austria with a double-podium day and hints at growing depth in their snowboardcross program.
Elsewhere on the alpine snow calendar, another Austrian — Benjamin Karl — defended his gold in the men’s parallel giant slalom on Sunday (ET), giving the nation additional cause for celebration at these Games.
For snowboardcross fans, the Milano Cortina final delivered everything the discipline promises: close quarters, split-second decision-making, and a finish that left only tiny margins between glory and heartbreak. Haemmerle’s board-first instinct at the line was the difference, and the result will add another compelling chapter to one of the sport’s most intense rivalries.
