Quebec Snowboard Prodigy Éliot Grondin Pursues Olympic Glory in Milano Cortina
At just 24 years old, Sainte-Marie native Éliot Grondin has already established himself as a dominant force in the world of snowboard cross. As he prepares for his third Olympic appearance at the Milano Cortina Games, the Quebec athlete is focused on capturing the one prize that has eluded him so far: Olympic gold.
From Teenage Olympian to World Champion
Grondin's Olympic journey began at the remarkably young age of 16 when he became the youngest male athlete on Team Canada at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. That early experience competing against seasoned veterans helped forge the champion he would become. "Éliot kind of has the ultimate recipe; physically, he's a machine," his coach Maëlle Ricker told the CBC. "He's got the genetics that are really good for being dominant in snowboard cross... it makes him just a little bit of a beast."
The young snowboarder's progression has been nothing short of spectacular. He first strapped on a snowboard at age 4, entered his first competition at 8 (which he won), and became Canada's first world junior champion in men's snowboard cross in 2021. His dedication and natural talent have propelled him to the top of his sport.
Building an Impressive Medal Collection
Grondin's Olympic resume already includes significant accomplishments:
- Silver medal in snowboard cross at the 2022 Beijing Olympics (missing gold by just .02 seconds)
- Bronze medal in the inaugural Olympic mixed team snowboard cross event with teammate Meryeta O'Dine
- Two consecutive Crystal Globe awards as top-ranked athlete in men's FIS World Cup snowboard cross standings (2024 and 2025)
- First senior world championship title at the 2025 FIS Snowboard World Championships in Switzerland
Despite the sport's appearance as one of brute strength and speed, Grondin emphasizes the strategic elements involved. He travels with a dozen snowboards to match track configurations and snow conditions, spending days before each event learning courses and plotting his line "to the centimetre." This meticulous preparation, combined with one of the world's quickest starts (developed from years of being the youngest competitor), has resulted in remarkable success including seven wins in 13 World Cup races during the 2023-2024 season.
Quebec's Strong Presence in Olympic Snowboarding
Grondin represents just one part of Quebec's significant contribution to Canada's Olympic snowboarding team. He will be joined by several fellow Quebec athletes including:
- Audrey McManiman in snowboard cross
- Elizabeth Hosking of Longueuil in halfpipe
- Arnaud Gaudet and Aurélie Moisan in parallel giant slalom
Quebecers also make up half of Team Canada's snowboard slopestyle and big air team, featuring veteran Laurie Blouin (29, Quebec City) who won silver in slopestyle in 2018, along with Olympic debutants Eli Bouchard (18) and Francis Jobin (27). This strong representation builds on Canada's impressive 2022 Olympic performance where snowboarders won six medals—the biggest Olympic medal haul for Canadian snowboarders in history.
The Road to Gold in Milano Cortina
As Grondin prepares for his gold medal attempts on February 12 (individual event) and February 15 (mixed team event), he benefits from having his girlfriend, Australian snowboard cross racer Josie Baff, traveling with him on the World Cup circuit and competing alongside him in Milano Cortina. This support system, combined with his fierce dedication to daily training and competition experience, positions him well to achieve his ultimate goal.
The young athlete from Sainte-Marie has come a long way from his first competition victory at age 8. Now, as the world's top-ranked snowboard cross racer for two consecutive years, Éliot Grondin stands poised to complete his Olympic trophy case with the coveted gold medal that would cement his legacy as one of Canada's greatest snowboarding champions.
