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Cortina: Australian snowboarder Ben Tudhope has won a bronze medal in the men’s banked slalom SB-LL2 at the Winter Paralympic Games. He is Australia’s only medallist at these Games so far after claiming silver in the men’s snowboard cross last week.
Tudhope, 26, finished behind Italy’s Emanuel Perathoner who also took gold in the snowboard cross, and Switzerland’s Fabrice von Gruenigen. It’s Tudhope’s first Paralympic medal in the event and his first time making the podium twice at a Winter Paralympics.
Ben Tudhope celebrates winning the bronze medal in the snowboard men’s banked slalom SB-LL2.Credit: Getty Images
“Today was fun. The pressure was off. The expectation of medalling was off and it’s fun going out there and being a contender and fighting for the podium,” Tudhope said.
“I always think to myself, I never tell this to anyone.… that banked slalom is my second event. I think I’m a border cross specialist and then bank slalom is just something I do on the side. So to be able to come here and perform and get this medal is absolutely insane, especially with the riding going on today,” he said.
Tudhope continued that while he hadn’t put the “perfect run down”, he was “stoked” with his performance.
“I wish I could have been absolutely stoked with myself, but to still be good enough to put the time down to… medal and be able to perform at that high level. I’m stoked.”
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Tudhope was also the only Australian to win a medal at the 2022 Beijing Games after winning a bronze in the snowboard cross. Having made his Paralympic debut at 14 years old in Sochi in 2014, this is Tudhope’s fourth Games. He was also one of Australia’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony last week.
“This course has been amazing. I think everyone was stoked up there compared to Beijing. Gosh, that was one of my worst performances in that four-year cycle. So in the back of my head, I definitely wanted to be able to put on the show here and that’s what I did,” he said.
“I’m happy. It’s an amazing feeling being here, to be at the Paralympic Games, to come away with two medals after being the opening ceremony flag bearer. What a dream Games for me.
“But, I’m happy it’s over now,” he laughed.
This masthead has travelled to Cortina as a guest of Paralympics Australia.
The Winter Paralympic Games is broadcast on the Nine Network, 9Now and Stan Sport.
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