Canadian Snowboarder Loses Out On Olympic Gold By Less Than A Blink Of The Eye

Eliot Grondin’s last-gasp attempt to take the title from Austria’s Alessandro Haemmerle ended in the most dramatic way.

A thrilling photo finish decided the men’s snowboard cross big final at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Thursday.

Austria’s Alessandro Haemmerle took the title, despite a last-gasp attempt by Canada’s Eliot Grondin to throw himself over the finish line.

Grondin was just 0.02 of a second behind. (Watch the video here.) A blink of the eye takes about 0.33 of a second.

Italy’s Omar Visintin won bronze.

Austria's Alessandro Haemmerle beat Canada's Eliot Grondin by just 0.02 of a second.
Austria's Alessandro Haemmerle beat Canada's Eliot Grondin by just 0.02 of a second.
Clive Rose via Getty Images