LIVIGNO, Italy – In a stunning turn of events, Great Britain secured its first-ever Olympic gold medal on snow at the Winter Olympics on Sunday, courtesy of Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale in the mixed team snowboard cross event. The victory, achieved amidst a chaotic series of events including a pub visit to regroup, a punch to the face, and a last-minute equipment repair, marks a historic moment for British winter sports.
The unlikely triumph unfolded at the Livigno venue, where Bankes and Nightingale overcame disappointing individual results to deliver a performance of remarkable resilience and skill. Their gold medal is the second for Team GB at these Games, representing the nation’s best-ever showing at a Winter Olympics.
“It’s immense,” Nightingale exclaimed after the race, encapsulating the sheer disbelief and joy of the moment. “It just feels unbelievable.”
The path to gold was anything but smooth. Both Bankes and Nightingale had faced heartbreak in their respective individual competitions, exiting early and leaving them frustrated. A post-competition visit to a local pub became an unexpected turning point. “It was one beer… well, two beers and go back again,” Bankes revealed, suggesting the relaxed atmosphere helped them refocus.
The mixed team event requires a strategic two-leg approach, with the men racing first. Nightingale faced immediate adversity in the opening round, absorbing an accidental punch to the face that left him momentarily dazed. Despite the setback, he managed to finish third, 1.09 seconds behind the leader, putting pressure on Bankes to qualify for the semi-finals.
“The first round was a bit stressful,” Nightingale admitted. “I got punched in the face just in turn one, and I got a bit dazed. I knew it would be tough for Charlotte, but she did an amazing job.”
Bankes responded with a strong performance, navigating the challenging course with precision and securing their progression to the next stage. However, further drama unfolded in the semi-finals. Nightingale delivered a blistering run, finishing second, but as Bankes prepared to race, disaster struck – the binding on her snowboard broke. A frantic repair with a screwdriver by the team’s technicians was required before she could compete.
“I broke a binding in that start gate and it put a bit of stress on the coaches and the wax techs,” Bankes said. “But they were great.”
The final presented a formidable challenge against a field of seasoned competitors. The Australian team, led by Olympic champion Josie Baff, posed a significant threat, as did the Italian duo of Michela Moioli, the reigning world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, and Loan Bozzolo of France, the 2023 mixed world title winner.
Nightingale delivered a crucial performance, securing second place behind Bozzolo with a time just 0.14 seconds off the lead. A crash by the Australian team, incurring a four-second penalty, further solidified Great Britain’s medal chances. The stage was set for Bankes to seal the victory.
Bankes executed a masterful run, strategically positioning herself behind Léa Casta before unleashing her speed and overtaking her four turns from the finish. She navigated the final bends and ramp with flawless technique, crossing the finish line 0.43 seconds ahead of Italy, who edged out France for silver.
“I knew Léa was going to pull away a bit in that start section,” Bankes explained. “But I just focused on myself, and then used the draft and made the right choices. I’ve been struggling all week but I really found my carving, found the speed out of the turns, which is one of my big strengths, and then it was just letting the instinct do the talking.”
Bankes’ journey to Olympic gold has been unconventional. Born in Hemel Hempstead, she moved to the French Alps at a young age and initially competed for France in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics before switching allegiance to Great Britain. A ninth-place finish in the individual event earlier in the week had seemingly dashed her medal hopes, but the mixed team event provided a chance for redemption.
The victory was not only a personal triumph for Bankes and Nightingale but also a watershed moment for British winter sports. It capped off a remarkable day for Team GB, with Tabitha Stoecker and Matt Weston later adding to the medal haul with a gold in skeleton. The unexpected combination of adversity, camaraderie, and sheer determination had propelled Great Britain to unprecedented success on the snow.
