Karl and Maderova seize Parallel Giant Slalom titles as upsets unfold in Livigno

Benjamin Karl (AUT) made it back-to-back titles and Zuzana Maderova continued Czechia’s dominance on a day of high drama in the Parallel Giant Slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno.  

Karl defeated Korea’s Kim Sangkyum in the Big Final four years after gold at Beijing 2022 to become the first man to win three Olympic medals. Tervel Zamfirov won Bulgaria’s first medal after getting the decision in a photo finish with Beijing silver medallist Tim Mastnak (SLO).

Ester Ledecka (CZE) appeared on the brink of immortalizing her name in Olympic history as the first snowboarder to win three straight titles but she failed to navigate the quarterfinals in what was one of several shocks.

Instead, Maderova ensured a Czechia athlete would stand atop the podium as she beat Sabine Payer (AUT) in the Big Final with Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) taking the bronze.

Karl was third seed following qualification and squeezed through the 1/8 final stage with a 0.03 victory over Maurizio Bormolini (ITA). He overcame teammate Andreas Prommegger (AUT) in the quarterfinals by 0.12 to set up a semifinal with Mastnak. In a repeat of the Beijing 2022 final, the Austrian won by 0.24 to book a place in the Big Final.

Kim navigated the knockout rounds with a 1/8 final victory over Zan Kosir (DNF) to set up a meeting with top seed Roland Fischnaller (ITA) who was seeking his first Olympic medal at the seventh time of asking. The Italian DNF as Kim progressed before a 0.23 win over Zamirov steered him into the Big Final.

Karl won by 0.19 for his second straight title and third medal overall, 16 years after silver at Vancouver 2010, before ripping off his shirt in tribute to fellow Austrian and double Olympic champion Hermann Maier.

He denied he felt the weight of expectation as the reigning champion.

Maderova impressed throughout. Second seed after qualification, she beat Cheyenne Loch (GER) by 0.36 in the 1/8 finals. Opponent Ramona Hofmeister crashed out in the quarterfinal before she had a clear 0.45 win over Elisa Caffont (ITA) in the semis to book a meeting with Payer.

Payer had been involved in a seismic shock when she came through her quarterfinal ahead of Ledecka who couldn’t bridge the gap after an early mistake with the Austrian through by 0.06. Overall World Cup leader Tsubaki Miki (JPN) also went out at the quarterfinal stage at the hands of Caffont as the field opened up.

A 0.23 win over Lucia Dalmasso (ITA) saw her into the Big Final where the Czechia athlete got a fine start and although the Austrian recovered from a mistake, Maderova enjoyed an emphatic 0.83 win.

A late surge by Dalmasso propelled her to a 0.11 win over fellow Italian Caffont in the Small Final.

Maderova has never topped a World Cup podium although she came into the Milano Cortina 2026 Games on the back of two third places on the tour.