Doing it for Cam
Published Wed 11 Feb 2026
Courtesy Australian Olympic Committee
When James ‘Jimmy’ Johnstone makes his Olympic Snowboard Cross debut he will be riding for his mate, Cam Bolton.
Bolton was forced to withdraw from the Games with a serious neck injury this week, giving Johnstone a last-minute start.
“This will be for Cam,” Johnstone said ahead of the Snowboard Cross competition at Milano Cortina 2026.
“I'm here to fill his place and ride for him and give my everything, because I know how much he'd kill to be doing it. So it's all for him. And my best wishes go out to Cam.”
Johnstone only arrived in Livigno on Monday. He was in town as a reserve, eager to soak up the Olympics and was confident he would just be a spectator this time around.
“It was a bit bittersweet for me. Being here and watching the men’s moguls qualifiers was super cool, but it was also a shame that I wasn't competing at the Games,” the 21-year-old said.
After watching his childhood mates in the moguls, Johnstone received a call from his head coach. Bolton was forced to withdraw from his fourth Olympics due to a serious neck injury. They needed Johnstone to step in at short notice.
“It was a pretty surreal moment; it still really hasn't set in,” Johnstone said after receiving the call. He was aptly having lunch with two of his junior coaches at the time.
Less than 24 hours later he was on the Olympic course training in the Australian Winter Olympic Team uniform.
“What a privilege it is to be wearing the green and gold and to compete in the Olympics,” he said. “It's crazy, and I’m just going to try and enjoy it.”
Riders were only allowed two runs down the course during official training and Johnstone crammed in as much information as he could.
“Trying to learn the track is the most important bit, and getting used to how it runs and the speed for different features. I like the course a lot. I think I can ride it well.”
And there is one big thing playing on the Sydneysider’s mind ahead of Men’s Snowboard Cross qualifiers on Thursday.
“Cam has been a massive role model and inspiration for me in my Snowboard Cross career, and he's been a really good teammate to me the last year or so since I came onto the World Cup team.”
Men’s Snowboard Cross takes place on Thursday 12 February. The seeding round begins at 8pm AEDT followed by the finals at 11:45pm AEDT.
Watch the Winter Olympics on Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport.
