LIVIGNO, Italy — Austrian snowboarding legend Benjamin Karl has etched his name further into the pantheon of winter sports greats, capturing the gold medal in the Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, 08 February 2026.
The 40-year-old veteran, who entered the Games as the defending champion from Beijing 2022, proved that age is no barrier to excellence. In a high-stakes final at the Livigno Snow Park, Karl defeated South Korea’s Kim Sang-gyeom by a narrow margin of 0.19 seconds. The victory marks Karl’s second consecutive Olympic gold in the event and his fourth Olympic medal overall, following silver in Vancouver 2010 and bronze in Sochi 2014.
Karl’s path to the top of the podium was a masterclass in consistency. After qualifying third behind Italian favourites Roland Fischnaller and Aaron March, Karl navigated a challenging bracket, edging out Slovenia’s Tim Mastnak in the semi-finals to guarantee himself a medal. In the big final, despite a minor stumble in the upper section of the course, Karl’s aggressive line in the lower gates allowed him to overtake Kim and secure the win.
A Historic Legacy
With this latest triumph, Karl solidifies his status as one of the most decorated alpine snowboarders in history. His career now includes:
- Two Olympic Gold Medals: Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026 (Parallel Giant Slalom).
- Five World Championship Titles: Spanning over a decade of dominance.
- Multi-Generational Success: Medalling in four different Winter Games across 16 years.
The atmosphere in Livigno was electric as Karl crossed the finish line, celebrated by a contingent of Austrian fans. Earlier in the week, Karl had already made headlines during the opening ceremony, where he was seen carrying fellow gold medallist and flag bearer Anna Gasser, a moment that captured the high spirits of the Austrian delegation.
Canadian Context
While the podium was dominated by Austria and South Korea, Canadian fans have been closely following the PGS circuit this season. Earlier in the 2025-26 World Cup campaign, Canadian breakout star Arnaud Gaudet pushed Karl to the limit, taking a silver medal in a tight final. Although the Canadian contingent faced stiff competition in today’s Olympic heats, the veteran Karl remains the benchmark for the next generation of riders, including Canada’s rising alpine snowboarders.
As the Milano Cortina Games continue, Karl’s victory stands as a testament to “longevity and legacy,” a theme he emphasized leading into what he has hinted may be his final Olympic appearance.