Lindsey Jacobellis is not done yet

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) never quits. Persistence powers every step of her career. 

By 2022, Jacobellis was one of the most decorated snowboarders of all time. The American snowboard cross star was already a legend in her sport. One thing was missing. 

An Olympic gold. 

Four Olympics and Jacobellis always finished in the top eight, but never better than silver. That was until she took the course in the snowy mountains in Zhangjiakou and took the top spot in her fifth Olympic try. 

Jacobellis followed it up three days later with another gold in the mixed team event alongside Nick Baumgartner (USA). The two were in tears after the win.

Even if it took a minute to grab the gold, Jacobelis has a crowded trophy case. She is a six-time world champion. Her World Cup career is decorated with 32 wins, including one in halfpipe. She also has two crystal globes. 

Although Jacobellis may have disagreed with how the media covered her storied career at times, in 2026, she joined the darkside. She has not officially retired, but Jacobellis took a break from the slope to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics from a different spot, the broadcast booth.

The transition was not always easy. The competitive spirit is always the last thing to leave an athlete.

It was a sacrifice Jacobellis was willing to make to help the sport in a new way. As one of the biggest names in a niche sport, the American carries a significant weight in trying to grow the discipline. Jumping in the booth is one more tool to help her sport prosper.

Jacobellis is hoping the sport garners more eyeballs in between Olympic years. Snowboard Cross was taken out of the X Games program, which she says did not help things. However, Jacobellis remains optimistic. She sees positive trends especially on the women’s side.

Broadcasting is not the only new challenge Jacobellis is taking on. She is also a new mother. A great change of pace from the adrenaline-packed action of a snowboard cross course.

She is not the only mother in the sport. Other snowboard cross starts like Chloe Trespeuch (FRA), Eva Adamczykova (CZE), and Faye Thelen (USA) have had children and returned to the top level of the sport.

Jacobellis is all gas, no brakes, taking on every challenge at full speed. Even when she is in recovery mode, she is still taking on breakneck challenges like surfing.

More is exactly what we can expect from Jacobellis. Maybe more announcing, more racing, more sports ambassadorship, but most definitely, more milestones.