Karl Wins Second Straight Olympic Gold in Parallel Giant Slalom

Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl claimed his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the men's parallel giant slalom on Sunday at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, edging out South Korea's Kim Sangkyum by 0.19 seconds in a thrilling final at Livigno Snow Park. The 40-year-old athlete, who trailed for much of the race before capitalizing on his opponent's late mistake, also became the oldest winner of an individual gold in Winter Olympics history, surpassing Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen's mark.

Karl's victory capped a dramatic comeback on the quarter-mile course, where he started strong in qualifying rounds but faced stiff competition in the knockout stages. In the decisive final, he maintained pressure on Kim, who held a slim lead until a slip allowed Karl to surge ahead and cross the finish line first. Bulgaria's Tervel Zamfirov secured bronze in the event, rounding out the podium. Officials confirmed the narrow margin, highlighting the precision required in parallel giant slalom, where competitors race side by side on identical tracks.

The win sparked one of the most memorable celebrations of the Games. Ignoring the subzero temperatures and...