Lara Naki Gutmann: Snowboardcross Seeding Kicks Off as Heraskevych Faces Disqualification
Lara Naki Gutmann appears in coverage notes as the Livigno seeding runs kick off, while men's snowboardcross sees top names seeded and a separate disciplinary controversy roils the sliding events. The day's action delivered a mix of competition and conflict, from seeding heat lists to a high-profile disqualification.
Snowboardcross seeding begins at Livigno with Grondin, Hämmerle and Baumgartner highlighted
Men's snowboardcross seeding runs began at Livigno Snow Park, opening the path toward knockout rounds. Nick Baumgartner, the veteran five-time Olympian, was the first to take a seeding run. The draw also listed Frenchman Loan Bozzolo at run No. 6 and Canada's Éliot Grondin at No. 7; Grondin arrives as the 2025 World Champion and the betting favorite. Australia's Adam Lambert was slotted to run 12th, while Austria's Alessandro Hämmerle — the 2022 gold medalist — took run No. 13.
The start list and seeding order set expectations for an intense elimination day. With Baumgartner opening the session and the World Champion positioned early, attention centered on whether veterans or recent champions would translate seeding performance into podium contention.
Lara Naki Gutmann and the broader Day 6 headlines: medals and a sliding controversy
Lara Naki Gutmann’s name appears in editorial tracking as coverage of Day 6 unfolded across multiple snow and ice disciplines. On the medal front, the halfpipe final produced a surprise: a two-time defending champion was denied a third straight gold after finishing with silver, while a 17-year-old delivered a gold-winning final run scored at 90. 25. That same day, the men's events included notable individual performances on the Cortina track: American Austin Florian set a new start record but mistakes at the bottom left him 12th with a time of 56. 95 seconds, 0. 74 seconds behind the leader, Matt Weston.
Beyond competition results, the sliding program was shaken by the disqualification of Vladyslav Heraskevych. He was initially omitted from the official start list, then added at the bottom with a DSQ next to his name. Event organizers withdrew his accreditation, and he has filed an appeal. The scene drew visible emotion, with on-site reaction noted among family and colleagues, and Heraskevych described his feelings as "empty. " The disciplinary action was linked to his continued use of a commemorative helmet.
What to watch next
With seeding runs under way in snowboardcross, the next phases will reveal how seeding order translates into head-to-head heat results. Watch for how early starters like Baumgartner fare against the likes of Grondin and Hämmerle when elimination rounds begin. Meanwhile, the appeal from the disqualified slider introduces an unresolved element that could have implications for start lists and athlete accreditation moving forward.
Across the rink and track, Day 6 combined competitive surprises and administrative rulings, leaving several stories in play as events move toward medal rounds.
