LIVIGNO, Italy — The sun shone brightly as Czech fans rang cowbells and waved their red-white-and-blue flags, anticipating a gold medal moment. But instead of their beloved Ester Ledecka, it was a surprise contender, 22-year-old Zuzana Maderova, who claimed the victory in snowboarding’s parallel giant slalom.
“I can’t believe it,” said Maderova, who celebrated her unexpected Olympic win. Just hours earlier, Ledecka, a two-time gold medalist, stumbled out of the race in the quarterfinals, leaving fans stunned.
“This sport is unpredictable,” Ledecka reflected. “One mistake can cost everything.” She had dominated the competition for nearly two years, so her early exit was a shock.
Czech President Petr Pavel had hoped to join in the celebration, but after watching Ledecka’s race, he became just another spectator. Her opponent, Sabine Payer from Austria, narrowly edged her out by just 0.06 seconds.
Despite the loss, Ledecka stayed focused on improving her technique. “I need to work on my toe side,” she said. “Every race is a learning experience.” She had previously made history by winning gold in both skiing and snowboarding at the Olympics, a feat unmatched so far.
Coach Justin Reiter explained that while Ledecka had been training intensely for skiing, it might not have been ideal for her snowboarding performance. “We might not have prepared as well as we could,” he admitted. “She still has a lot of potential.”
Meanwhile, Maderova’s victory sparked joy, especially for Payer, who took home the silver. “I knew I had to take risks,” Payer said, expressing her surprise in defeating Ledecka.
The shifting landscape of snowboarding means athletes like Austria’s Anna Gasser and American Chloe Kim are also vying to make their marks with potential historic wins. Gasser aims for a third consecutive title, while Kim prepares for her halfpipe competition.
In other highlights, Benjamin Karl of Austria won his second straight gold, celebrating with a joyous dive in the snow. “We sweat through four runs. It felt amazing to cool off,” he said, embodying the thrill of the event.
This event raised new discussions about the future of the parallel giant slalom in the Olympics. With uncertainty about its continuation, Ledecka voiced her concerns. “I hope they realize how much excitement we brought to the games,” she stated. “The crowd’s energy matters.”
For more updates on the Winter Olympics, check out the coverage from AP News: AP Winter Olympics.
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