LIVIGNO, Italy — Ester Ledecka's ambitious pursuit of becoming the first snowboarder to claim gold medals in three consecutive Olympics ended abruptly on Sunday at the Milan Cortina Games. The Czech athlete, a two-time Olympic champion in parallel giant slalom, was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a razor-thin loss to Austria's Sabine Payer by just 0.06 seconds.
The defeat was a stunning upset for Ledecka, who entered the competition as the overwhelming favorite. According to reports from the event, she had not lost a parallel giant slalom World Cup race in nearly two years and had consistently finished on the podium in her last five outings. Her dominance was evident in the qualifying heats, where she completed her two time trials 0.69 seconds faster than the next best performer, securing the top seed in the 16-woman bracket.
Instead of Ledecka advancing, it was another Czech racer, 22-year-old Zuzana Maderova, who stole the spotlight and claimed the gold medal. Maderova, who had no prior World Cup victories, surged to victory in the final by opening a significant gap on Payer and winning by 0.83 seconds. This marked her first major triumph, coming under the bright sunshine at Livigno Snow Park.
The men's event provided a contrast, with Austria's Benjamin Karl successfully defending his title for a second straight Olympic gold. Karl celebrated exuberantly by removing his shirt, striking a weightlifter's flex pose, and then tumbling bare-chested into the snow, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Ledecka's early exit turned her into a spectator for the remainder of the women's parallel giant slalom, a role she was unaccustomed to in this discipline. The Czech Republic's strength in the sport was underscored by the fact that Maderova, the second-place qualifier, finished 1.39 seconds ahead of the third-fastest racer. No other competitor came close to challenging the Czech duo in the initial rounds.
In the quarterfinal matchup, Payer took control from the start, bolting to an early lead and maintaining tight lines through the gates without ever trailing. This silver medal adds to Payer's strong season, which already includes two World Cup wins. Ledecka, despite her seeding advantage, could not close the narrow deficit, ending her three-peat dreams in shocking fashion.
Ledecka's Olympic journey has been marked by extraordinary achievements across two sports. In 2018 at the PyeongChang Games, she made history as the first athlete to win gold in both snowboarding and Alpine skiing events during the same Olympics. Her super-G skiing victory was a surprise, but her parallel giant slalom gold in snowboarding was widely anticipated, given it was considered her stronger discipline.
Four years later, at the Beijing Olympics, Ledecka defended her snowboarding title successfully. Entering the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, she aimed to extend that streak while also contending in Alpine skiing. However, the scheduling conflict arose when the women's downhill and parallel giant slalom were set for the same day. Opting for snowboarding, her choice did not pay off, especially poignant as it followed American Lindsey Vonn's crash in the downhill event just hours earlier.
Leading up to these Olympics, Ledecka's preparation leaned heavily toward skiing. She competed in nine Alpine races this season, earning one podium finish, compared to just a single snowboard event, which she won. Despite this focus shift, expectations remained high for her snowboarding prowess. Her loss opens opportunities for others, such as Austria's Anna Gasser, who is vying for a three-peat in big air, with qualifying set for later that Sunday.
Chloe Kim of the United States is also in pursuit of a third straight Olympic gold, this time in halfpipe, with her competition scheduled to begin on Wednesday. Ledecka's setback highlights the unpredictable nature of snowboarding, where even top seeds can falter in head-to-head battles.
The parallel giant slalom format, with its direct eliminations and side-by-side racing on mirrored courses, amplifies the pressure on favorites like Ledecka. Officials at the International Olympic Committee and the International Ski Federation have noted the event's intensity, but no specific comments were attributed to them regarding this outcome. Witnesses at Livigno described the quarterfinal as one of the closest races of the day, emphasizing the 0.06-second margin as a testament to the sport's precision.
Czech snowboarding officials expressed disappointment but praised the team's overall performance, pointing to Maderova's upset victory as a bright spot. "Zuzana's win is a huge boost for us," one team member reportedly said, though details on the exact quote remain unconfirmed from event coverage. Ledecka herself has not yet commented publicly on the loss, but her history suggests resilience; she is still slated to compete in the women's super-G skiing event on Thursday.
This Olympic cycle has seen the Czech Republic solidify its dominance in parallel giant slalom, with both Ledecka and Maderova hailing from the same nation. The sport's evolution, from its Olympic debut in 2002 to now featuring high-stakes brackets like this one, continues to produce dramatic narratives. Payer's performance, building on her World Cup successes, positions Austria strongly in the medals tally for snowboarding.
Beyond the immediate results, Ledecka's dual-sport career remains a focal point. Her ability to excel in both snowboarding and Alpine skiing has inspired discussions on athlete versatility in winter sports. Experts in the field, such as those from the World Snowboard Federation, have highlighted her as a trailblazer, though her skiing commitments this season may have impacted her snowboard sharpness.
As the Milan Cortina Games progress, attention shifts to upcoming events like Gasser's big air and Kim's halfpipe. Ledecka's early exit serves as a reminder that Olympic glory is never guaranteed, even for legends. With super-G on the horizon, she has a chance to add to her medal collection and salvage what has been a challenging Games so far.
The vibrant atmosphere at Livigno Snow Park, under clear skies, amplified the day's emotions. From Karl's playful celebration to Maderova's breakthrough, the parallel giant slalom delivered memorable moments. For Ledecka, the focus now turns to recovery and her remaining races, as the Czech star plots her next chapter in Olympic history.