livia kaiser: Haemmerle clinches back-to-back Olympic men's snowboard cross titles

Alessandro Haemmerle surged to a second straight Olympic gold in men's snowboard cross at Milan Cortina 2026, narrowly fending off Canadian rival Eliot Grondin in a rematch of their 2022 duel. The Austrians and French riders pushed the sport’s limits on a wild, unforgiving course that delivered photo-finish drama and memorable performances from veterans and newcomers alike.

Haemmerle holds off Grondin in a replay of Beijing thriller

From the drop gate to the final jump, the big final was a tight, tactical fight. Haemmerle emerged first, carving through the field and crossing the line with just a hair’s breadth separating him from Grondin. The margin was ever so small—an echo of the 2022 Olympics photo finish—and left riders and fans breathless.

“Unbelievable. I’m not sure how I made it. It was so tight all the time, but it was great racing with Eliot once again, ” Haemmerle said after the race, visibly moved by the win. His words underscored how marginal gains and split-second decisions define victory in snowboard cross.

Grondin, who again finished immediately behind Haemmerle, reflected on the rivalry with a mixture of respect and rue. “It’s a lot of emotion for sure, sharing the podium with Alessandro again, who just beat me in the last Olympics by 0. 002 [seconds] or something, and then again today, by 0. 003 or something, ” he said. He added that losing to Haemmerle “probably hurts a little less” because of the deep competitive history between them.

Bronze, breakout runs and veteran grit

Jakob Dusek completed the podium with a strong ride to claim bronze, edging into position among the sport’s top contenders. The finals also highlighted emerging French talent: Aidan Chollet reached the big final and finished fourth, while his younger brother Jonas made an impressive Olympic debut despite a narrow semifinal exit.

“I’m very happy. It was a complicated race, very long, and I gave it my all. I’m super proud to have done that, ” Jonas Chollet said after his first Olympics. His performance, and his brother’s near-podium finish, signal a deepening pipeline of French speed and tactical nous in snowboard cross.

Experience was also on full display. American Nick Baumgartner, at 44 the oldest competitor in the field, rode with the poise that has kept him competitive across five Olympics. He finished seventh after advancing through gritty quarterfinal and semifinal heats and later contested the small final.

“Because at the end of the day, when I come here to the Olympics at 44, no one expects me to win or do that well, so it takes the pressure away and I just go out there and I do everything I can, ” Baumgartner said. “No one’s outworking me. I put in a lot of work to be competitive with these kids and they know it. ”

Legacy, pressure and what comes next

Haemmerle’s back-to-back golds place him in rare company in snowboard cross, stepping into a lineage of multiple Olympic champions who have defined the discipline across recent Winter Games. After his victory he spoke to the unique pressures winners face and what it means to carry the title forward.

“There’s so much pressure in snowboard cross, especially once you win an Olympic gold. All the guys before me have two, I’m so glad I could step into their footsteps, ” Haemmerle said, referencing the handful of riders who have claimed two Olympic crowns. He added a touch of sportsmanship and prophecy: “I wish good luck to the next guy winning the Olympic gold. It means a ton to me. ”

The event underscored snowboard cross’s volatility: tiny margins, split-second contact and the constant threat of overturning expectations. For fans and competitors, Milan Cortina 2026 reaffirmed that rivalries—like the one between Haemmerle and Grondin—drive the sport forward, while veteran persistence and youthful ambition create the kind of narrative that will carry into future seasons and the next Games.