Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale etched their names into Team GB history on Friday by winning the mixed team snowboard cross event, delivering Britain's first gold medal on snow at the Winter Olympics after 102 years of trying. The victory came amid dramatic circumstances in Livigno, including a drunken night out, a punch to the face, and a last-minute equipment repair.
Both riders had bombed out of the individual events earlier in the week, prompting them to drown their sorrows in a local pub. "It was one beer … well, two beers and go back again," Bankes said, admitting the session helped them relax and regroup. The pair then went riding the next day, “had fun, and enjoyed it.”
The road to gold was far from smooth. In the opening round, Nightingale was accidentally punched in the face in the first turn and finished third, leaving Bankes to pull off a stunning ride to qualify. In the semi-finals, Bankes' snowboard binding broke moments before the start, requiring an emergency screwdriver repair by the coaches and wax technicians.
The final saw Nightingale secure second place behind France, just 0.14 seconds back. Bankes then lurked behind France's Léa Casta, building speed before cutting inside with four turns to go. She crossed the line 0.43 seconds ahead of Italy, who took silver. Australia, the Olympic champions, crashed and received a four-second penalty.
Bankes, who competed for France in 2014 and 2018 before switching to GB, said she relied on her instinct and carving ability. Nightingale, born in Bolton but based in Austria, summed up the glorious chaos: “It just feels unbelievable.” The gold was the first of three for Team GB on what became the nation's greatest day at the Winter Games.
