GRONDIN ON THE PODIUM
Four years after Beijing, Éliot Grondin came into the final stretch neck-and-neck with Austria’s Alessandro Haemmerle, once again. History repeated itself on the Snowboard Cross course today, with gold slipping through by just three hundredths of a second. It was a finish that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Éliot stormed through the earlier rounds, taking top spot in his 1/8 final, quarterfinal, and semifinal heats, setting the stage for the heart-stopping showdown in the big final.
ÉLIOT GRONDIN | PHOTO: MARK BLINCH/COC
“In the big final, I had to sit back and enjoy the ride… I tried, it almost worked, and I’m happy with how it went,” Éliot said, capturing both the intensity of the race and the razor-thin margin that separated him from the top step.
Every turn, every jump, every split-second decision mattered, and Éliot left nothing on the course.
This silver isn’t just a medal; it’s the culmination of four years of relentless training and focus. “I trained the last four years to arrive here… obviously we wanted gold, but silver isn’t too bad either. I’m happy with my day,” he added, a mix of pride and that familiar competitive fire shining through.
ÉLIOT GRONDIN | PHOTO: MARK BLINCH/COC
For Team Canada, Éliot’s silver today is proof of pure grit and speed at the highest level. Fractions of a second from gold, he still claimed the podium with a ride that demanded respect, and reminded the world exactly why he’s a force in Snowboard Cross.
