Haemmerle Defends Snowboardcross Olympic Title for Austria
Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria successfully defended his title in men’s snowboardcross at the Winter Olympics held in Livigno, Italy. He faced strong competition from Canada’s Eliot Grondin, who secured the silver medal. The race concluded with a thrilling finish, as Haemmerle edged Grondin by just 0.03 seconds, showcasing his exceptional skill and determination.
Haemmerle’s Title Defense
During the event, Haemmerle demonstrated remarkable prowess, managing to close a gap against Grondin as they neared the finish line. In their previous showdown at the 2022 Olympics, Haemmerle won by a margin of just 0.02 seconds. This close rivalry continued into the 2024 competition.
Bronze Medal Results
Completing the podium was fellow Austrian Jakob Dusek, who took home the bronze medal. France’s Aidan Chollet nearly joined the medalists but fell short in a race that saw all four finalists vying closely for victory.
Other Competitors
- Nick Baumgartner, the 2022 Olympic mixed snowboardcross champion from the United States, reached the semifinals but was eliminated.
- Haemmerle’s previous achievements in the sport include ranking highly in the 2024-25 Crystal Globe and the 2025 world championship, where he won a bronze medal.
- Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl also defended his title, securing gold in the men’s parallel giant slalom shortly after Haemmerle’s race.
Snowboardcross features exhilarating competition, where four riders race on a challenging course filled with banks and rolling bumps. In each heat, the top two racers advance, ultimately leading to a showdown in the final round.
