Australia's Josie Baff beat world and Olympic champions to claim snowboard cross gold at the Milan/Cortina Games for her biggest career success on Friday.
Baff, a world championship runner-up from 2023, edged the boarder who beat her for gold three years ago, Czech star Eva Adamczykova, in a thrilling final and her tears of joy flowed freely.
The bronze went to 2018 gold medallist and reigning world champion Michela Moioli of Italy. Like in the quarter- and semi-finals, Moioli had a slow start and trailed by several metres but she came back each time in the fast mid-section under sunny skies.
Swiss teenager Noemie Wiedmer held the early lead after surprisingly reaching the final before eventually fading to fourth.
World Cup leader Charlotte Bankes of Britain went out in the quarter-finals for the second straight time. She lost time early on and never fully recovered.
The 2022 silver medallist Chloe Trespeuch of France exited in the same round.
Baff's gold was the second for Australia at the Milan/Cortina Games, after Cooper Woods had won the freestyle skiing men's moguls event the previous day.