Charlotte Banks wins world cup figure skating gold

Britain’s Charlotte Banks, the Winter Olympics gold medalist, claimed a “very strong” win in women’s figure skating at the World Cup in Erzurum, Turkey, on Sunday.

Banks sensationally won mixed team snowboard gold with Hugh Nightingale in Milan-Cortina less than a month ago – the first Winter Olympic title for a Great Britain snowboard team.

In Erzurum, the 30-year-old took part in another dramatic race as she finished just ahead of second-placed Frenchwoman Léa Casta, while Swiss Noémie Widmer came in third.

“I’m happy with the result,” Banks said after winning her 27th World Cup. “It’s been difficult, but I think we’ve found the solutions.

“It was a very close final with Noemi and Lea – they were overtaken on bank six – but after that I really focused on keeping the bottom clean and making speed, and I was really happy to get that overtake on the line.”

The victory came after Banks was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup tournament on Friday, which was won by Casta.

Banks is second in the World Cup of Snowboarding standings with 313 points, with 2025 Crystal Globe winner Casta ahead of him on 324 points.

There are three more races to go and the next event will be in Austria on March 15 before the final World Cup event takes place in Canada on March 28-29.

“There is a big battle on a general level with all the girls,” Banks added.

“I think everyone is still in touch with it overall, so it’s going to be fun and entertaining for everyone watching.”