Great Britain Wins First Snow Gold Medal

Great Britain's Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale have won a historic gold medal in the mixed team snowboard cross at the 2026 Winter Olympics. This is the first time Great Britain has won an Olympic gold medal on snow. The pair showed great skill and teamwork to win the top prize.
By Newsroom | Winter Sports, Great Britain |

A significant achievement for Team GB has been noted at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale clinching the gold medal in the mixed team snowboard cross event. This victory marks a first for Great Britain, representing their inaugural Olympic gold medal on snow and the first time the nation has secured two gold medals at a single Winter Games. The event, held as part of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, saw intense competition, with other nations also vying for podium positions.

Winter Olympics 2026: GB glory in mixed team snowboard cross final, Brignone wins women’s giant slalom – live - 1

A Triumph Born from Setbacks

The path to this historic gold was not without its challenges for the British duo. Charlotte Bankes, a former individual world champion and World Cup winner, experienced disappointment earlier in the week when she exited the women's individual snowboard cross event in the quarter-finals, a repeat of her performance in the previous Olympics. Similarly, Huw Nightingale did not achieve his desired outcome in the men's individual competition, being eliminated in the round of 16. However, both athletes demonstrated remarkable resilience and elevated their performance in the mixed team format, ultimately securing the top spot.

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Winter Olympics 2026: GB glory in mixed team snowboard cross final, Brignone wins women’s giant slalom – live - 2

The Road to Gold: Event Progression and Key Competitors

The mixed team snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics involved a series of heats, culminating in a final featuring four teams. The final saw Great Britain's Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale compete against Italy, France, and Australia.

Winter Olympics 2026: GB glory in mixed team snowboard cross final, Brignone wins women’s giant slalom – live - 3

  • Great Britain: Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale

  • Italy: Lorenzo Sommariva and Michela Moioli

  • France: Loan Bozzolo and Lea Casta

  • Australia: Adam Lambert and Josie Baff

Reports indicate that Bankes effectively closed a small deficit during her leg of the race to overtake France, securing the gold medal position.

Winter Olympics 2026: GB glory in mixed team snowboard cross final, Brignone wins women’s giant slalom – live - 4

Final Standings:

RankNationAthletesMedal
1Great BritainCharlotte Bankes, Huw NightingaleGold
2ItalyLorenzo Sommariva, Michela MoioliSilver
3FranceLoan Bozzolo, Lea CastaBronze
4AustraliaAdam Lambert, Josie Baff—

Broader Olympic Context: Other Notable Events

While the mixed snowboard cross captured significant attention for Team GB, other events were also concluding or underway on the same day:

Read More: Great Britain Wins Historic Snowboard Cross Gold

  • Women's Giant Slalom: Italy's Federica Brignone secured her second gold medal in the women's giant slalom. Notably, Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States did not reach the podium in this event.

  • Individual Snowboard Cross: Prior to the mixed team event, Charlotte Bankes was a prominent medal hopeful for Great Britain in the women's individual snowboard cross. However, she was eliminated in the quarter-finals. Information from a Wikipedia entry on the women's snowboard cross suggests Josie Baff of Australia won the event, with Eva Adamczyková taking silver and Michela Moioli earning bronze. This differs from the mixed team results.

Analysis of Performance and Historical Significance

The mixed team snowboard cross gold medal represents a notable breakthrough for Great Britain in a winter sport. Winning two gold medals at a single Winter Olympics is an unprecedented achievement for the nation.

Read More: Great Britain Wins First Snow Gold at Olympics

  • Charlotte Bankes's Performance: Despite individual setbacks, Bankes demonstrated her competitive spirit and ability to perform under pressure in the mixed team final. Her role in overcoming deficits and securing the win highlights her caliber as an athlete.

  • Huw Nightingale's Contribution: Nightingale also showed significant improvement and performance, contributing substantially to the team's success. Commentators noted a visible increase in confidence and skill from the outset of the event.

  • Team Dynamics: The success in the mixed team event underscores the importance of collaboration and mutual support between athletes in this format.

The presence of Michela Moioli and Lorenzo Sommariva for Italy securing silver, and Loan Bozzolo and Lea Casta for France taking bronze, indicates a highly competitive field. Italy's performance contributed to their overall medal count at their home Olympics.

Conclusion and Future Implications

The mixed team snowboard cross gold medal by Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale is a landmark moment for British winter sports. It not only provides the nation with its first Olympic gold on snow but also marks a significant achievement in winning multiple golds at one Games. The resilience shown by the athletes after facing individual disappointments underscores their determination. This success is likely to galvanize support and interest in winter sports within Great Britain. Further analysis of qualification data from the women's individual event indicates a deep field, making the team's victory particularly noteworthy.

Sources Used

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who won the mixed team snowboard cross gold medal?
Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale from Great Britain won the gold medal.
Q: Is this the first gold medal for Great Britain on snow?
Yes, this is Great Britain's first ever Olympic gold medal in a snow sport.
Q: What happened in the individual snowboard cross events?
Charlotte Bankes was in the women's event and Huw Nightingale was in the men's event. They did not win medals in their individual races but did very well in the team event.
Q: Which countries won the other medals?
Italy won the silver medal and France won the bronze medal.