Eliot Grondin wins World Cup snowboardcross bronze in France

Eliot Grondin (facebook)

Canadian Olympic silver medalist Eliot Grondin of Sainte-Marie, Quebec won the bronze medal on Sunday in a World Cup men’s snowboard cross race in Les Deux Alpes, France. Grondin placed behind gold medalist Martin Noerl of Germany, and silver medalist Omar Visintin of Italy.

Grondin had the fifth fastest time in qualifying at 1:06.79. He was only behind Noerl at 1:06.47, Lorenzo Sommariva of Italy at 1:06.62, Jakob Dusek of Austria at 1:06.72, and Cameron Bolton of Australia at 1:06.75. Grondin then won his first round race, and the quarterfinal race, before finishing second to Noerl in the semifinals. In the big final, Grondin beat out fourth place finisher Lucas Eguibar of Spain, to reach the podium.

This was Grondin’s seventh World Cup medal in men’s snowboard cross. To date, he has two gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals.

Grondin actually won two medals at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. He won a silver medal in men’s snowboard cross, and a bronze medal in mixed snowboard cross alongside Meryeta O’Dine of Prince George, British Columbia.

This is the first of six World Cup men’s snowboardcross races in 2022-23. Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec will host a race on February 4. The bronze medal for Grondin in France on Sunday will give him confidence as he prepares for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.

 

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