How excited was Austria’s Benjamin Karl to win his second consecutive gold medal in the men’s parallel giant slalom? He disregarded the cold, snowy conditions at the Livigno Snow Park and ditched his ski clothing to flex in victory.
Karl, 40, trailed South Korea’s Kim Sang-kyum through much of the final. But Kim made a mistake with a wide turn midway down the course and Karl raced downhill to finish 0.19 seconds ahead to win gold. Bulgaria’s Tervel Zamfirov won bronze in the event.
As if going shirtless in the snow wasn’t enough, Karl continued his celebration by kneeling to toss the powder in the air before lying face-down in the snow for what will surely be one of the most exuberant displays of triumph at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
After winning gold in the men’s snowboarding parallel giant slalom, Austria’s Benjamin Karl shed his top and laid face-down in the snow. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
(Hannah Peters via Getty Images)
Karl may also have been tired after finishing his run in addition to shedding four layers of clothing in celebration. This wasn’t Brandi Chastain after Team USA won the women’s World Cup in 1999 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Karl’s celebration took a bit longer.
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With the win, Karl successfully defended the gold medal he won at the 2022 Beijing Games. He also became the first snowboarder to win four Olympic medals with the bronze he earned at Sochi in 2014 and silver he took in 2010 at Vancouver.