BEAVER CREEK, Colo. — The current calendar for the 2026 Winter Olympics poses a significant dilemma for Ester Ledecka, an accomplished snowboarder and ski racer from the Czech Republic. On February 8, 2026, she is scheduled to compete in two events that will occur in different Italian locations, making it practically impossible for her to participate in both.
Ledecka faces a choice between competing in the women’s downhill event at the Milan-Cortina Games or attempting to secure a third consecutive title in snowboarding’s parallel giant slalom. Given the tight timing between the events, Ledecka is advocating for a potential adjustment to the Olympic schedule through her country’s Olympic committee. The recently revealed schedule has amplified her concerns.
“It feels like a dream has been shattered,” expressed the 29-year-old Ledecka following a training session in Beaver Creek, where she is gearing up for upcoming World Cup competitions in downhill and super-G. “I sincerely hope they can make some changes. It’s my ultimate ambition to take part in both events, and I can create a thrilling experience for spectators.”
Ledecka stands out as one of the few athletes excelling at championship levels in both winter sports. Her historic win in super-G during the Pyeongchang Games nearly seven years ago—starting from bib No. 26—was followed by her gold medal victory in parallel GS just one week later. At the preceding Beijing Winter Games, she successfully defended her PGS title and placed fifth in super-G, while also finishing 27th in the downhill event and fourth in Alpine combined.
It is not unusual for the Olympic schedule to be altered. For instance, prior to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, a request from athlete Allyson Felix to compete in both the 200 and 400 meters was granted, earning her a silver medal in the 400. In 1996, the schedule was readjusted to allow American sprinter Michael Johnson to compete in both the 200 and 400 meters during the Atlanta Games, where he secured gold medals in both events.
“I would really appreciate a schedule change,” Ledecka shared, noting her lifelong passion for skiing, which began at age two, and snowboarding, which she took up three years later. “There’s a lot of advocacy happening right now.”
The present arrangement has the parallel giant slalom qualifying round starting from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on February 8 in Livigno, while the final is set for 1 p.m. In contrast, the women’s downhill race is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in Cortina, with a travel time of approximately four hours between the two areas.
At this stage, Ledecka is leaning towards her snowboarding commitment since a few days later, she will compete in a super-G ski race. “I find it disheartening to be faced with such scheduling conflicts,” she admitted. “But it’s still a long way off.”
With 88 starts in World Cup skiing, Ledecka boasts ten podium finishes and four victories. In snowboarding, she has 63 World Cup starts with 39 podium finishes and 25 gold medals. “Her ability to handle both sports is just phenomenal,” mentioned American ski racer Jacqueline Wiles, who has experience in snowboarding from her youth. “It’s truly remarkable.”
Ledecka appreciates the distinct challenges of each sport—speed in skiing and precision in snowboarding. However, balancing training for both can be tricky, as she juggles events and practice sessions. Notably, she competed in a PGS race in China shortly before her arrival in Beaver Creek.
Following her training in Beaver Creek, Ledecka plans to head to St. Moritz, Switzerland, for more ski racing. Currently, she is managing an impressive collection of her gear, traveling with eight snowboards and 20 pairs of skis. “You wouldn’t believe how cluttered the ski room is,” she joked. “I have immense respect for my tech guy managing it all. I’m incredibly grateful for my team’s support in my dream of transitioning between the snowboard and ski World Cups. It’s truly a joyful experience.”
In related news, Swiss skier Lara Gut-Behrami topped the charts in the second training run on Thursday, with Italian racers Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone closely following, both within a second of her time. Lindsey Vonn, age 40, is anticipated to begin forerunning prior to the third and final training session on Friday, although she intends to test the course before the weekend competitions at the Birds of Prey course.
