Czech snowboarders Ester Ledecká and Zuzana Maděrová secured top positions in the qualification for the Olympic parallel giant slalom in Livigno, with Ledecká posting the fastest times in both runs.
Ester Ledecká and Zuzana Maděrová, representing Czechia, dominated the qualification rounds for the Olympic parallel giant slalom competition held in Livigno. Ledecká, the defending Olympic champion from Pyeongchang and Beijing, showcased her prowess by clocking the fastest time in both runs, while Maděrová finished just behind her, trailing by a mere 0.69 seconds. Their impressive performances marked them as strong contenders ahead of the knockout stages beginning at 1 PM.
The knockout rounds will feature head-to-head racing, with the Czechs already standing out from the rest of the field in the qualification. Notably, leading World Cup competitor Miki Kubaki from Japan fell significantly behind, finishing third and conceding 2.08 seconds to Ledecká. The men's event saw Czech competitor Kryštof Minárik regrettably fail to advance into the knockout rounds, underscoring the competitive nature of the event.
Ledecká's history of success is relevant as she has previously won qualification rounds before securing gold medals in 2018 and 2022. Looking ahead, Ledecká will face Austrian Claudia Riegler in the first knockout round, while Maděrová is set to compete against Cheyenne Loch from Germany. Both athletes hope to meet again in the medal heats, reflecting the high expectations placed on them as they strive for Olympic glory.
