LIVIGNO, Italy — Ester Ledecka’s ambition to become the first snowboarder to secure gold medals in three consecutive Olympics came to a surprising halt on Sunday. The 30-year-old Czech athlete was edged out in her quarterfinal race of the parallel giant slalom by Austria’s Sabine Payer, finishing just 0.06 seconds behind her opponent.
Ledecka entered the competition as a strong favorite for gold, having not lost a Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) World Cup race in nearly two years and maintaining an impressive podium streak over five events. Her unique status as an athlete who excels in both snowboarding and Alpine skiing made her a focal point of attention.
She made headlines in 2018 by becoming the first athlete to win gold in both snowboarding and skiing at the same Olympics, stunning many with her super-G victory. Ledecka successfully defended her snowboarding title in China four years ago and was keen to repeat her success this year. However, her aspirations were complicated by a scheduling conflict that placed her snowboarding events on the same day as her Alpine women’s downhill race. Ultimately, she opted to compete in the snowboard event, missing out on both titles.
Despite this setback in snowboarding, Ledecka has another opportunity ahead, as she is still slated to compete in skiing’s super-G on Thursday. In the lead-up to the Olympics, she has largely focused on skiing, participating in nine Alpine races this season, which garnered her one podium finish, while securing victory in a single snowboarding event.
Sabine Payer’s victory was notable, as she has consistently performed well this season, boasting two wins and sharing the top spot on the FIS snowboarding points list. During their quarterfinal matchup, Payer established an early lead with impressive technique, maintaining her advantage throughout the race.
Ledecka’s loss now opens the door for Austria’s Anna Gasser to aim for a historic third consecutive Olympic title in snowboarding, with her big air qualifying event scheduled for later Sunday. Additionally, Chloe Kim is also in pursuit of a three-peat, with her halfpipe contest kicking off on Wednesday.
As the competition continues, the hopes of Ledecka and her peers remain high, showcasing the relentless spirit and skill within winter sports.