Canadian Olympic silver medalist Eliot Grondin of Sainte-Marie, Quebec won two World Cup snowboard cross gold medals in Beidahu, China on the weekend. He placed first on Saturday and first on Sunday in two World Cup events.
Grondin, who won the silver medal in men’s snowboard cross at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, placed ahead of silver medalist Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria and bronze medalist Merlin Surget of France on Saturday. Haemmerle won the gold medal in men’s ski cross at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Then on Sunday, Grondin placed ahead of silver medalist Leon Ulbricht of Germany and bronze medalist Loan Bozzolo of France.
In Saturday’s World Cup event, Grondin won the eighth first round heat, the fourth quarterfinal heat and second semifinal heat. In Sunday’s World Cup event, Grondin won the first first round heat, first quarterfinal heat and first semifinal heat.
Grondin now has won 21 World Cup medals. He has won 12 gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze medals. In the World Cup standings, Grondin leads with 250 points. Jakob Dusek of Austria is in second place with 144 points. The gold medals for Grondin will give him confidence as he prepares for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.
