USA's Baumgartner and Jacobellis Oldie goldie mixed team snowboard cross reaction

The United States team of Nick Baumgartner (40) and Lindsey Jacobellis (36) were fastest and best in the brilliantly chaotic debut of mixed team snowboard cross here at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Jacobellis and Baumgartner, who embraced emotionally after the big final of the inaugural event, never looked like being denied.

Baumgartner, who was in tears two days ago, claiming he felt he "let everyone down," back home in Iron River, Michigan, pulled off an incredible takeover in his run in the big final.

he gave Jacobellis some breathing room to help her come across the finish line first in the following women's leg (the final race of the event) that saw Meryeta O'Dine of Canada and Caterina Carpano of Italy crash hard.

"It's days like I had two days ago that make days like this one so special," said Baumgartner. "And you have so much pressure off you when you have someone like Lindsey [Jacobellis] in the gate after you. You can be your best and I'm so proud to show my worth."

He added: "We're looking younger than everybody today!"

The Italian team of Omar Visintin (bronze in the men's competition) and Michela Moioli fought the whole way in the two big final legs. Moioli tightened the gap against Jacobellis in an all-out sprint finish, but it wasn't quite enough.