Great Britain seize historic win in Mixed Team Snowboard Cross

Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale combined to make history as Great Britain won its first ever Olympic title in a snow sport in the Mixed Team Snowboard Cross at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno.

Nightingale was second after his run, 0.14 behind leaders France 2, and although Lea Casta stormed out of the blocks, Bankes came through on the inside to seize a lead she was never going to relinquish.

The Italy 1 pairing of Lorenzo Sommariva and Michela Moioli won silver after the women’s individual bronze medallist made up a 0.66 deficit to overhaul France 2.

Casta and Loan Bozzolo (FRA) finished third and Australia 1 fourth with individual women’s champion Josie Baff given a mountainous task after Adam Lambert fell.

Bankes underlined her resilience as she responded to the anguish of going out of the individual event at the quarterfinal stage.

The pair add Olympic gold to the world title they won in 2023.

There were thrills and spills from the off in Livigno.

Great Britain 1 and Australia 1 came through the second quarterfinal ahead of Austria 1 and Canada 1.

That meant no place in the semifinals for Eliot Grondin (CAN) and Jakob Dusek (AUT) who were second and third in the men’s individual event while defending champion Nick Baumgartner (USA) and women’s silver medalist Eva Adamczykova (CZE) were also eliminated.

Bozzolo gave France 2 a slight lead in the first semifinal ahead of Great Britain 1 followed by Australia 2 and Switzerland 1.

Bankes’ preparation in the final seconds was disrupted when she had to change her bindings.

However, the Briton kept her composure and passed Casta to take first place ahead of France 2 with Australia 2 and Switzerland 1 heading to the Small Final.

Leon Ulbricht (GER) guided Germany 1 to pole position after the first run of the second semifinal ahead of France 1.

However, Moioli moved from third to first as Italy 1 came through to book a place in the Big Final with Australia 1.

THE SMALL FINAL

Ulbricht again guided Germany 1 into top spot after the first run ahead of France 1, Switzerland 1 and Australia 2.

Noemie Wiedmer (SUI) soon closed in on Jana Fischer (GER) and Julia Nirani-Pereira (FRA) and moved to the left in a sprint for the line.

It needed a photo finish to separate Nirani-Pereira and Wiedmer with France 1 given the decision to take fifth place overall followed by Switzerland 1, Germany 1 and Australia 2.

THE BIG FINAL

Bozzolo got away well for France 2 and finished first with a 0.14secs lead over Nightingale followed by Italy 1 and Australia 1, who were given the maximum time penalty of 4.16secs after Lambert fell.

A review studied the incident that led to Lambert’s crash where he tried to close in on Sommariva and fell.

Casta stormed out after the delay but Bankes closed in before moving on the inside and taking the lead to clinch the historic title.

Moioli leaves Milano Cortina 2026 with a silver and bronze medal after perfecting her tactics in the individual and team events. Her double podium finish comes just days after a heavy crash in training last Wednesday, underscoring a resilient and composed Olympic campaign.

Bozzolo made up half the France pairing that won the 2025 world title in Engadin, Switzerland to which he can now add an Olympic medal.

The three-time Olympian said: “When I think about the last years, the injuries, just very grateful to share this medal with Lea. I have a medal now, I will try to take more medals in the next Olympics. It’s going to be in France. It will be a new motivation for my career.”

Up Next:

Three thrilling days of Snowboard Cross action wrap up in Livigno at Milano Cortina 2026, delivering a mix of new champions, returning medalists and remarkable comeback stories. From photo finishes to tactical masterclasses, the event showcased the sport at its most explosive and unpredictable. With the Olympic medals decided, the riders can now embrace the Games experience, and a well-earned pause, before the FIS World Cup circuit resumes in March.