Ben Tudhope has won bronze in the men's banked slalom SB-LL2 at the Winter Paralympic Games, adding a second medal to his tally in Cortina and cementing his role as Australia's standard-bearer at these Games.
The snowboarder finished behind Italy's Emanuel Perathoner, who also took gold in the snowboard cross, and Switzerland's Fabrice von Gruenigen. The result represents a significant moment for the 26-year-old, who took the silver medal in the Para snowboard cross at Milano Cortina 2026, despite dislocating his shoulder in the first heat of that earlier event.
For Tudhope, the progression from his silver in snowboard cross to this second podium finish reflects resilience under pressure. The banked slalom, he explained, often feels secondary to his main event. "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," he said. "So to be able to come here and perform and get this medal is absolutely insane, especially with the riding going on today."
The performance carries particular weight for Australia's Olympic movement. By Day 6, no other Australian had yet won a medal, and Tudhope knew someone has to uphold the nation's record of winning a medal at every Winter Games since 1992. No other Australian had yet won a medal before his silver in snowboard cross secured Australia's opening medal of the campaign.
The Australian was 14 when he and Para snowboard made their Paralympic debuts at Sochi 2014. He won his first medal, a bronze, at Beijing 2022 and topped that result four years later with silver in the snowboard cross. This is his fourth Paralympic Winter Games, at just 26 years old. He also served as one of Australia's flag bearers at the opening ceremony, adding symbolic weight to his medal contributions.
The shoulder injury sustained early in the snowboard cross competition underscored the physical demands of Paralympic competition. The on-course medical team patched Tudhope up, and he was right back in the moment, going on to claim silver. That mental composure has defined his competitive character across four Games.
Looking forward, Tudhope expressed satisfaction with his overall campaign despite acknowledging imperfect performances. "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." His dual-medal achievement represents not only personal success but a meaningful contribution to Australia's Paralympic legacy in Winter sports.