LIVIGNO, Italy — In a dramatic turn of events at the mixed team snowboard cross final, Australian snowboarder Adam Lambert’s misstep cost his team a shot at history. Just days after Josie Baff’s gold medal triumph in the women’s snowboard cross, hopes for a second gold were dashed due to a costly mistake in the final stretch of the race.
Baff had been in top form, dominating the quarter and semi-finals. Lambert, who had previously underperformed in the men’s event, showed significant improvement to help secure a place in the medal final. With only four teams vying for three podium spots, Australia seemed poised for another victory.
Lambert’s Costly Mistake
Lambert’s run began promisingly as he managed to climb from a sluggish start to second place. However, trouble struck when he lost his line on a turn, dropping back to fourth. In a bid to regain position, Lambert attempted to pass Italian competitor Lorenzo Sommariva but collided with him, resulting in a spin and a consequential four-second penalty.
“I came around turn 5 and I had speed on Lorenzo,” Lambert explained to Australian media. “I had to make a decision, well I didn’t actually get to make a decision because the decision was made for me in the air.”
“I would have been content with fourth there but like I said, as I came over that camel I didn’t have space to move left. I had to take what I was given.”
Josie Baff’s Perspective
Despite the setback, Baff refused to place blame on her teammate. Instead, she praised Lambert for his efforts in reaching the final. “I was super happy that I got paired with Lambo,” Baff said. “I know how good he is at snowboarding and I was really excited to, I guess, give him an opportunity to showcase that to everybody.”
Baff’s optimism was evident as she started her leg of the relay, hoping for a miracle finish. “I knew that I was strong and my starts were way better today,” she said. “I was kind of going back to my normal starts.”
“I could see them exiting the turn as I was entering the turn and I was thinking this could still work… but unfortunately four seconds is a long time.”
Looking Ahead
Although Baff finished 3.42 seconds behind the winner, her performance was commendable, clocking a time 0.20 seconds faster than Britain’s Charlotte Bankes, who clinched gold. Lambert remains focused on future competitions, aiming to maintain his lead in the World Cup series and win the Crystal Globe.
“Maybe it’s too soon to tell,” Lambert said regarding whether the mistake would haunt him. “I have lots of other goals when it comes to my sport, like Josie said Crystal Globe is high on that list and I am leading the World Cup overall.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s other team, consisting of Jarryd Hughes and Mia Clift, faced their own challenges. Hughes, a silver medalist from Pyeongchang 2018, is contemplating retirement after battling a severe foot injury sustained in a World Cup event last year.
“I’m going to assess how everything is from here, but this will probably be my last Olympics,” Hughes admitted, acknowledging Clift’s support throughout the event.
The mixed team snowboard cross final in Livigno was a testament to the unpredictable nature of the sport, where even the best-laid plans can unravel in an instant. As the athletes look towards future competitions, the lessons learned from this experience will undoubtedly shape their strategies and aspirations.
