BEIJING | With medals each in the individual event, Éliot Grondin and Meryeta O’Dine combined their efforts to give Canada a third podium in snowboardcross in the mixed team competition that was presented at the Olympic Games for the first time in the season. ‘story.
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Presented under the snow, Saturday morning in Zhangjiakou, the final of the mixed event kept everyone in suspense before Canada could finally get their hands on the bronze medal. While the Americans and Italians had crossed the finish line to win gold and silver respectively, Canada’s Meryeta O’Dine and Italy’s Caterina Carpano (both Italy teams reached the Grand Final ) were still waiting. A spectacular collision forced the two riders to remount the jump to regain their momentum and race towards the finish line.
“It was stressful because we didn’t know what was going on and I was hoping that Meryeta was okay,” said Grondin, who had won the silver in the individual event two days earlier. I saw the collision, but it took 30 seconds before they appeared on the last jump and Meryeta was in 3rd place. It was a lot of emotions in a short period of time.
Solo bronze medalist, O’Dine resumed the race with a knife between his teeth after the collision. “I got up, there was a medal to get and I wanted it, she said. The Italian landed on me. It’s part of the sport, that’s why we train so hard and wear a lot of equipment to protect ourselves. With three or four girls jumping at the same time hoping to get the best racing line, anything can happen.”
Very happy with his silver medal, the 20-year-old Beauceron fully savored this second medal won as a team. “I was very happy to win a medal in the individual event and to achieve it is worth a lot, but our podium in the mixed event shows teamwork and it has great value. We have been running together for several years and we are friends beyond the races.
“It’s amazing to win bronze, to add the youngest medalist in snowboarding history. In a very strong wave, Meryeta faced the Olympic champions of Beijing (Lindsey Jacobellis) and Pyeongchang (Michela Moioli).
After experiencing very intense emotions, Grondin was able to put it all behind him before taking part in a second event in less than 48 hours. “I reset the counters to zero on Friday morning, he explained. I left aside my silver medal and did the same preparation as for the individual event. From now on, I will let go and live my emotions.”
Victory of the veterans
Solo gold medalist, the American Lindsey Jacobellis once again climbed to the top step of the podium in the company of Nick Baumgartner who finally managed to earn her first ecu in five participations in the Olympic Games. He thus becomes the oldest snowboarder to win an Olympic medal.
At 36 and 40 respectively, the American duo were the oldest at the start.
“I’m super impressed with Baumgartner who is twice my age,” Grondin said. I am very happy to have been able to race against him. Ten years ago, I watched the World Cup and encouraged it.