In snowboarding, she opened the season with a PGS victory in Mylin, China, on Nov. 30. Ledecka has 25 World Cup snowboard victories, with her first dating to January 2014. “I believe I can still put on a very good show, but it’s just difficult with the schedule,” she said, referring to the conflicting downhill […]
In snowboarding, she opened the season with a PGS victory in Mylin, China, on Nov. 30. Ledecka has 25 World Cup snowboard victories, with her first dating to January 2014.
“I believe I can still put on a very good show, but it’s just difficult with the schedule,” she said, referring to the conflicting downhill and snowboard PGS races. “Everyone seems kind of shocked because they want to see me race in both sports.”
A Tough Dilemma for Ledecka
Ledecka has written to the IOC, asking for a schedule change.
Supported by the Czech Olympic Committee, the skiing and snowboarding Olympic champion hopes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Milan-Cortina 2026 organizers will consider altering the Olympic schedule, allowing her to compete in all her desired events.
Justin Reiter, Ledecka’s U.S. snowboard coach and a 2014 Olympian, said the situation involves complex dynamics.
Ester Ledecka and her ski racing and snowboarding coaches face a difficult decision ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Although we are well aware that putting together an Olympic program is very difficult, we asked if it would be possible to consider a change,” a spokesperson from the Czech Olympic Committee told Ski Racing Media. “The Olympics create extraordinary stories, and Ester’s success in two different sports transcends the Czech Republic. We hope her story can continue. For now, we are waiting for a response.”
The women’s super-G is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, so Ledecka could still compete in both sports in Milan-Cortina. However, choosing the snowboard PGS as the two-time defending champion would mean missing the downhill and critical training runs on the Olympia delle Tofane course.
“She’s a very special athlete, of course, but you have other considerations when organizing the Games,” Dubi said. “We are proud that these Games are diverse in their geographic scope.
The Pyeongchang 2018 women’s super-G and snowboard parallel giant slalom gold medalist may be forced to choose between competing in the women’s downhill and her premier snowboard discipline. Both events are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.
Ledecka said: “I’m fighting for this, and I’m still hopeful.”
Support From the Czech Olympic Committee
Ledecka remains hopeful for a chance to compete in both sports at Milan-Cortina.
“It’s tough, and the local organizers may not want to support a change,” Reiter told Ski Racing Media. “In both disciplines, Italy has medal favorites, so they might see a benefit in maintaining the schedule.
“The consequence is that athletes like her will need to adapt. She’s unique, but there are tens of thousands of moving parts in Games preparation. It’s very complicated to accommodate a request from one individual, although we recognize her remarkable capabilities.”
The 29-year-old from Prague is fully supported by the Czech Olympic Committee, which has also filed a request with the IOC.
IOC Addresses the Situation
“I’m glad they are fighting for me, but we are still a small country, and maybe that’s a bit of a problem,” Ledecka said.
“I was really sad, obviously, when I got the message about the schedule because it has been my biggest dream since I was 3 years old,” Ledecka said in an exclusive interview with Ski Racing Media in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Ski Racing Media spoke with IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi about the scheduling conflict and the Czech Olympic Committee’s request.
Follow Brian on Instagram: @brian_pinelli
Still at the Top
Ledecka stunned the world at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games with her super-G victory from bib No. 25, winning by 0.01 seconds. She has remained competitive in both speed disciplines and snowboarding.
Milan-Cortina 2026 released the official Olympic competition schedule on Dec. 9, 2024. According to a spokesperson, “minor changes” are still possible, and the final schedule will be confirmed in autumn 2025.
“Even if I do super-G and snowboard, it’s still quite difficult,” she said. “In Beijing (2022 Olympics), with two days in between, it was quite tight. I finished my snowboard race, and I only had two days to switch to skiing.”
Backing From Her Coaches
“I’m fighting for this and would love for it to happen,” she said. “For sure, it’s tough, but I’m still hopeful.”
All women’s Alpine skiing events will take place on the Olympia delle Tofane track in Cortina, while the snowboard PGS will be held in Livigno, more than four hours away by car.
“However, I am optimistic they’ll see the value in allowing the best competition and inspiring fans. The power of sport can truly bring people together.”
Keeping Her Dream Alive
This season, she finished eighth in Cortina’s downhill, adding to 6th and 4th place finishes, respectively, in Beaver Creek and St. Anton. She is fourth in the World Cup downhill standings, 57 points behind Federica Brignone.
Ledecka placed fourth in the combined, fifth in the super-G, and 27th in the downhill at the Beijing Games.
“It’s possible to fulfill my dream of competing in both sports again,” she said. “I’ve made many fans because I do two sports. They find it inspiring, and I want to keep showing young athletes that nothing is impossible.”
