Josie Baff of Australia won gold in the women’s snowboard cross at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, on Friday, February 13, marking the first time an Australian woman has claimed the top spot in the event.
Baff, 23, navigated a challenging course and a competitive field to secure the victory. The final race included Czechia’s Eva Adamczykova, who took silver, and Italy’s Michela Moioli, who earned bronze on her home course. Switzerland’s Noemie Wiedmer finished fourth.
Despite being ranked No. 2 in the world, Baff entered the Games as a relatively under-the-radar competitor. She hadn’t secured an individual World Cup win in over two years, but a series of successful runs throughout the Olympic competition propelled her to the final. She eliminated prominent riders such as world No. 1 Charlotte Bankes and Julia Nirani-Pereira along the way.
“She took it to ’em, mate,” Baff’s father, Peter Baff, a ski and snowboard instructor, told reporters after the race.
Adamczykova, the 2014 Olympic gold medalist and 2018 bronze medalist, completed her collection of Olympic medals with a silver finish. She had not competed at the 2022 Beijing Games. “It’s a really different story from eight years ago. I always said that I want to complete the collection, so I suppose it was meant to be,” Adamczykova said.
Moioli, a popular figure in Italian snowboarding, secured a bronze medal despite a fall during practice. “I have scars on my face but Moioli never dies,” she stated following the race.
Baff’s victory comes after finishing 17th in the morning’s seeding runs, demonstrating her ability to improve her position throughout the competition. She expressed her surprise and satisfaction with the outcome. “I would like to say I can’t believe it,” she said, “but I kind of can.”
The competition as well saw several new mothers returning to the sport, including France’s Chloe Trespeuch and American Faye Thelen, highlighting a growing trend of athletes balancing family life with their athletic careers.
