Australian snowboarder Josie Baff has firmly declined to attribute blame to her teammate Adam Lambert following a dramatic crash that dashed her hopes of securing a historic second medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The incident occurred during the highly anticipated mixed team snowboard cross final, where Baff and Lambert, childhood neighbours from Jindabyne, were poised to add to Australia's medal tally of five.
Crash Costs Medal Chance in Team Event
Just hours after Matt Graham claimed bronze in the dual moguls, the Australian duo entered the mixed team final with strong momentum. However, Lambert became entangled with Italian racer Lorenzo Sommariva on a corner, resulting in a heavy crash. He managed to finish the course but trailed the French leader, Loan Bozzolo, by 4.16 seconds.
In the mixed team format, the women's leg follows the men's, with start times determined by the margin their partner finished behind the winner. This meant Baff, despite her exceptional form after winning gold in the individual women's event earlier in Livigno, faced an insurmountable deficit. She started fourth through the gates and could only secure last place in the four-racer final.
Baff's Reaction and Olympic Ambitions
Baff, who aimed to become the first Australian athlete to win two medals in a single Winter Games edition, expressed pride in their performance despite the disappointment. 'In the final, going down and having four seconds, it's a tough situation to be in, but I'm still really proud of the two of us and I think we showed everyone what we're capable of,' she stated.
She acknowledged the sting of missing out on a potential medal, saying, 'Obviously, I think we could have won - I really truly believe that we could have had that medal and I guess that stings a little bit.' Baff highlighted the unpredictable nature of snowboard cross, noting, 'But at the same time, it's border cross and it shows the unpredictability of the sport and that's just racing.'
Lambert's Account and Future Focus
Lambert, 28, explained that the crash occurred when he landed on Sommariva's tail, losing contact with his toe-side edge. Reflecting on the outcome, he said, 'That's what sent me down and it's a tough place to be, fourth at the Olympics, we're in the final and there's only so many people that get to be on the podium, and I'm proud to have been in the final to begin with.'
Aware of Baff's superior speed, Lambert's strategy was simply to avoid crashing, but contact was unavoidable. He admitted, 'I know Josie could have pulled back half a second, she probably could have pulled back one a second-and-a-half, she's been riding so well but four seconds is just slightly too much.'
When asked if the missed Olympic medal opportunity would linger, Lambert responded, 'It's a good question, maybe it's too soon to tell.' As the current World Cup rankings leader, he plans to shift focus to other goals, including winning a Crystal Globe. 'I have lots of other goals when it comes to my sport ... winning a Crystal Globe is high on that list, and I'm currently leading the World Cup overall, so my attention will definitely be shifting towards that,' he added.
The gold medal in the event was won by Great Britain's Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes, with Italy taking silver and France bronze. Despite the setback, Baff and Lambert's performance underscored their capability and resilience in the face of Olympic pressure.
