LIVIGNO, Italy, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Austria's Alessandro Haemmerle edged out Eliot Grondin of Canada in a dramatic photo finish to successfully defend his men's snowboard cross title at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on Thursday.
Haemmerle crossed the line just 0.03 seconds ahead of Grondin in the big final, replicating his narrow victory over the Canadian at Beijing 2022, where the margin was 0.02 seconds.
Haemmerle's compatriot Jakob Dusek secured bronze, while France's Aidan Chollet, who had led for much of the race, finished fourth.
The final once again highlighted the razor-thin margins that define the rivalry between Haemmerle and Grondin. The pair battled through the quarterfinals and semifinals before renewing their duel in the decisive race.
Grondin, the reigning world champion and winner of the 2024-25 snowboard cross Crystal Globe, has emerged as one of the dominant figures on the circuit in recent seasons. However, Haemmerle delivered when it mattered most, using his experience and tactical composure to surge ahead in the closing meters.
Snowboard cross made its Olympic debut at the 2006 Turin Games. In the six editions held to date, the men's title has been dominated by the reigning champions.
American Seth Wescott won the inaugural gold in 2006 and defended it in 2010. France's Pierre Vaultier followed with back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2018. With his triumphs in Beijing 2022 and Milan-Cortina 2026, Haemmerle became the third man to claim consecutive Olympic titles in the event. Enditem
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