Benjamin Karl Triumphs Again as Olympic Champion
Benjamin Karl has once again proven his dominance in the world of snowboarding. On February 8, 2026, at the Olympic giant slalom in Livigno, he secured a gold medal, mirroring his victory from the previous Games in Beijing.
Historic Win for Benjamin Karl
The 40-year-old athlete from Wilhelmsburg, located in the district of St. Pölten, added another triumph to his illustrious career. With this gold medal, Karl further solidified his status as the most successful snowboarder in history.
Achievements and Career Highlights
- Five-time World Champion
- Three overall World Cup titles
- Four Olympic medals: two gold, one silver, and one bronze
This Olympic victory in Livigno was particularly significant for Karl, marking the final goal of his career, as he plans to retire at the end of the season.
Path to Gold
The journey to the gold medal was thrilling. In the Round of 16, Karl narrowly defeated Italy’s Bormolini by just three hundredths of a second. His quarterfinal match against Austrian teammate Andreas Prommegger was equally close, with only twelve hundredths separating them.
In the semifinals, he faced Tim Mastnik and won by a slight margin, setting the stage for the final showdown against South Korea’s Kim Sangkyum. Karl clinched victory with a margin of 19 hundredths of a second, celebrating the win on the exact anniversary of his previous Olympic triumph in Beijing.
A Memorable Team Performance
Alongside Karl’s remarkable achievement, Austria’s snowboard team celebrated additional success. Sabine Payer earned a silver medal, falling short in the final against Czech competitor Zuzana Maderova.
As Benjamin Karl secures his legacy, the snowboarding community and fans around the world commend his contributions to the sport.
