Great Britain have won their first Olympic gold medal on snow in more than a century of Winter Games competition and secured their first ever double gold at a single Winter Olympics in a day of high drama in Livigno.
Charlotte Bankes produced a phenomenal, historic series of final runs to propel Team GB to victory in the mixed snowboard cross, brilliantly set up each time by her partner Huw Nightingale.
The British pair stormed through the quarter final and semi final before delivering under immense pressure in the big final. It was Bankes who sealed it in unforgettable fashion.
Just days after finishing a tearful ninth in the individual event, having been among the favourites for gold, she showed her class and courage when it mattered most.
In the decisive race, Bankes tracked France’s Lea Casta down the 1,110 metre course before launching a daring move on the penultimate bend. Diving for the inside line, she edged ahead and powered over the final jump with a comfortable lead to secure a historic victory.
As she crossed the line she looked momentarily stunned, before being wrapped in an emotional embrace by Nightingale.
Bankes, born in Hemel Hempstead, and Nightingale, from Bolton, had previously won the world mixed snowboard title in 2023. Now they have triumphed on the biggest stage of all.
It marks Britain’s best ever performance on snow, adding to bronze medals previously won by Jenny Jones, Billy Morgan and Izzy Atkin. The achievement also stands alongside the 13 gold medals secured on ice in Winter Olympic history.
The most recent of those came on Friday night when Matt Weston claimed gold in the men’s skeleton. Weston will attempt to add to his medal tally in the mixed team skeleton later on Sunday.
With this victory, Team GB have already surpassed their previous Winter Olympic gold medal record. They will now attempt to eclipse their best overall medal haul of five, achieved in both 2014 and 2018.
Final classification
1 Great Britain
2 Italy, +0.43
3 France, +0.55
4 Australia, +3.42
In the end, Bankes crossed the line comfortably ahead of Italy’s Michela Moiolo, who narrowly held off France’s Lea Casta for silver. Australia’s Josie Baff was left with too much to do to challenge for a podium place.
For the second time at these Games, “God Save The King” rang out as Nightingale and Bankes stood proudly on the top step of the podium.
History made, gold won, and Britain blazing a trail on snow at last.
Image: Screengrab / X
