(Photo courtesy Nick Baumgartner) Nick Baumgartner readies to start a snowboard cross run during the World Cup finals in Switzerland earlier this winter.

Zhangjiakou, China — Nick Baumgartner is going to turn 40 years old in mid-December. Just don’t tell him that.

The Bates Township resident is gunning for his fourth, and he says final, Olympics. And he showed he still has the stuff on Sunday when he finished third in the first Olympic men’s snowboardcross test event at Secret Garden in Zhangjiakou, China.

Baumgartner, who will turn 40 on Dec. 17, finished 0.6 seconds behind race winner Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria and just 0.1 seconds in back of runner-up Omar Visintin of Italy.

“First race of the season and I’m so excited to land on the podium!” Baumgartner posted on Facebook. “The fact that it was on the Olympic course makes it that much sweeter.

“When you have days like today it makes all the sacrifices worth it! Thanks so much to everyone that believed in me and also thanks to everyone that didn’t because you had a lot to do with it, too.”

A few days later, Baumgartner remained, as he would say, “stoked.”

“I’m still on cloud nine from that race,” he posted on Instagram. “I’ve always said I will continue to do this as long as I’m competitive and having fun. I think it’s safe to say that … grin on my face says I’m still having fun.”

For years, Baumgartner has enjoyed great support from fans across the Upper Peninsula and beyond and he took the time to remember those fans after his recent outing.

“Thank you so much for all the love and support,” he said in his Instagram post. “I was blown away by how many people took the time to leave a comment and share my post. I wanted to reply to them all but know I read every single one. You are the best fans and support team a guy could ask for.”

Baumgartner finished fourth in snowboardcross at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. He has won two bronze medals, in 2009 and 2015, at the World Championships, and brought home a gold medal in the 2011 X Games and a silver in the 2012 X Games, both held in Aspen, Colorado.

He also has finished in the top 10 in the FIS World Cup standings eight times.

Baumgartner is in his 16th year with the U.S. National team. He debuted with the team in 2005.

The 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be held in Beijing from Feb. 4-20.

Bob Reinert of TeamUSA.org contributed to this report.