Roland Fischnaller was defeated. © ANSA / ALEX PLAVEVSKI

Roland Fischnaller's Olympic dream has burst.

Roland Fischnaller was considered one of the top favorites for a medal in the parallel giant slalom. But the snowboarder from Villnöß went home empty-handed for the seventh time at the Olympics.

February 08, 2026

From: dl

Roland Fischnaller didn't deserve this: The South Tyrolean won three World Cup races this winter at the age of 45. At the Olympics, alpine snowboarders only have one chance – this one race – and Fischnaller failed to capitalize on it on Sunday in Livigno. After a superb qualifying run and a strong round of 16, "Fisch" was defeated in the quarterfinals.

In his duel against the Korean Sangkyum Kim, Fischnaller made several mistakes. After an error in the middle section, South Tyrol's ski jumping icon risked everything – and was eliminated just a few gates from the finish. Fischnaller's deep disappointment was evident afterward. He will most likely end his career without an Olympic medal.

Italy's men go home empty-handed

The second South Tyrolean, Aaron March, was eliminated in the round of 16 by Tim Mastnak by six hundredths of a second. The Slovenian then knocked out another Italian, Mirko Felicetti. Local favorite Maurizio Bormolini, however, was defeated in the round of 16 by Benjamin Karl by a mere three hundredths of a second. Thus, Italy's men left their home Olympics empty-handed.

Benjamin Karl won Austria's first gold medal. © APA/afp / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Austrian Benjamin Karl secured gold in Livigno on Sunday. The 40-year-old won the grand final against Kim, who had defeated Fischnaller. Karl thus repeated his Olympic victory from Beijing. This was Austria's first gold medal at the Milan and Cortina Games.

Italian woman wins bronze

Jasmin Coratti's run in the women's competition ended in the round of 16. The athlete from the Upper Vinschgau region lost her duel with her Italian teammate, Lucia Dalmasso, by six hundredths of a second. Dalmasso went on to win the bronze medal match against another Italian, Elisa Caffont.

Lucia Dalmasso won the bronze medal match. © APA/afp / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Ester Ledecka, who opted out of the downhill in Cortina and competed in parallel snowboarding, missed out on her third consecutive gold medal. The all-rounder from the Czech Republic was defeated in the quarterfinals by Austria's Sabine Payer. Payer then lost the grand final to the Czech Zuzana Maderova, who went on to become Olympic champion.