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SNOWBOARD CROSS, AN event where multiple snowboarders race down a course at the same time, is one of the more off-the-wall sports at the Olympics.

In today’s semi-final heat, we got a prime example: With only one spot left in the finals of the Olympic men’s snowboard cross, U.S. racers Alex Deibold and Trevor Jacobs came crashing into the line in a remarkable finish.

Jacobs was in third, slightly ahead of Deibold, with a few yards to go in their semifinal heat. Only the top three finishers advanced to the final.

Just when it looked like Jacobs would cruise into the line, he lost his balance, swerved, and crashed. At the same time Deibold lunged for the line, his board slipped out from under him, and he tumbled to the finish.

Unreal (gifs via BBC):

The side-on view is too close to call:

God bless you, photo-finish cam.

BBC screengrab BBC screengrab

They hugged it out

BBC screengrab. BBC screengrab.

Deibold would go on to take third place again in the final – it’s a game of inches, y’know.

Nikolay Olyunin, who won this heat, went on to claim silver in the final behind France’s Pierre Vaultier.

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