Women's Snowboard Cross: Australia Takes Home Gold with Dignity

In the Women's Small Finals and Big Finals is one of the most important competition for the women to compete in the SXB Snowboarding Cross finale. On February 13, 2026, The Women’s Snowboard Cross Small Final and the Big Final at the 2026 Winter Olympics took place at Livigno Snow Park on a demanding 1.1 km course featuring a 154 m vertical drop, a steep gated start, and 24 technical elements designed to reward aggressive yet controlled racing. While medals were not on the line, pride, placement, and national points ensured a fiercely competitive showdown.

Pia Zerkhold of Austria burst out of the gate with authority, taking the inside line through the opening drop and early banked turns to seize the lead. Julia Pereira de Sousa Mabileau of France and Léa Casta of France battled closely behind, while Faye Thelen of USA stayed in contention despite a slightly slower start. Through the rollers and big jumps, Zerkhold’s clean lines and speed proved decisive, allowing her to maintain control as the others traded aggressive but clean overtaking attempts. In the final sprint, Zerkhold held strong to claim 5th place overall, with Pereira de Sousa Mabileau taking 6th, Thelen finishing 7th in a solid veteran performance, and Casta rounding out the field in 8th. It was a hard-fought, incident-free race that showcased depth, discipline, and the relentless intensity that defines Olympic snowboard cross even beyond the medal rounds.

In the Women’s Snowboard Cross Big Final, The four finalists are Josie Baff of Australia, Eva Adamczyková of Czech Republic, Michela Moioli of Italy and Noémie Wiedmer of Switzerland charged down the 1.1 km course in one of the tightest races of the Games.

Under perfect conditions, the gate dropped and all four riders exploded forward. Baff, using her explosive start and refined edge control, immediately grabbed the inside line through the steep opening drop and first banked turns. Adamczyková applied pressure but settled just behind early, while Moioli and Wiedmer battled shoulder-to-shoulder in the chase. There were no crashes — just aggressive, calculated positioning as Baff carved out a small but crucial lead. The undulating rollers and big jumps proved decisive. Baff rode daring yet precise lines, maintaining speed and rhythm through every feature. Adamczyková pushed hard, closing the gap in technical sections, while Moioli surged forward backed by roaring Italian support. Wiedmer stayed composed, looking for an opening. The pack remained tight and high-risk, but Baff’s composure under pressure kept her narrowly in front. In the closing rollers and sprint to the line, Adamczyková launched a fierce late charge. The gap shrank dramatically in the final meters. Moioli fought hard to secure bronze, while Wiedmer couldn’t quite break through.

In a breathtaking photo finish, Baff crossed first by just 0.04 seconds, with margins at one moment appearing as close as 0.02 seconds. She pumped her arms in celebration — claiming Australia’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s snowboard cross. Fans of Josie Baff and the rest of Australia celebrated her victory and while her fans also wore custom hats and others brought inflatable Kangaroos.

🥇 Josie Baff (Australia)

🥈 Eva Adamczyková (Czech Republic)

🥉 Michela Moioli (Italy)

4️⃣ Noémie Wiedmer (Switzerland)

Adamczyková added silver to her Olympic résumé (gold in 2014, bronze in 2018), Moioli thrilled the home crowd with bronze, and Wiedmer finished a strong fourth in a relentless, high-speed showdown. Milano Cortina 2026 once again proved that snowboard cross is Olympic sport at its most dramatic — decided by courage, precision, and fractions of a second.