At 40, Austrian Snowboarder Wins Record 4th Olympic Medal

Benjamin Karl dropped to his knees and kissed the podium, completing a journey that started when he was just 10 years old dreaming of Olympic gold.

The 40-year-old Austrian snowboarder made history Sunday at Milano Cortina 2026, becoming the first athlete ever to win four Olympic snowboard medals. He defended his parallel giant slalom title at Livigno Snow Park, cementing his legacy as the sport's greatest competitor.

"When I was a 10-year-old kid, I wanted to be the fastest snowboarder," Karl told Olympics.com after his victory. "I wanted to be an Olympic champion and world champion, and I have reached these goals now."

Karl's Olympic journey began with silver at Vancouver 2010, followed by bronze at Sochi 2014. But his greatest achievements came after turning 30, defying the typical athletic timeline.

He won his first gold at Beijing 2022 at age 36. Four years later in Italy, he became the oldest Olympic snowboard medallist ever and Austria's oldest winter Olympic medallist in any sport.

The path to gold wasn't easy. Karl nearly lost in the first round, squeaking past home favorite Maurizio Bormolini by just 0.03 seconds. Three thousandths of a second separated him from elimination and history.

"This is my slowest run and then I'm getting in the flow," Karl had told his family before competing. His confidence proved right as he grew stronger with each race, eventually dominating the final.

Two days before his golden run, Karl carried Austria's flag at the Opening Ceremony on the same course where he would defend his title. His family watched from the stands wrapped in Austrian flags and gold foil as he climbed to the top step.

Why This Inspires

Karl's story proves that peak performance doesn't have an expiration date. At an age when most athletes have retired, he reached the pinnacle of his sport through patience and persistence.

He's also the first back-to-back champion in the event in 20 years. This time, unlike his previous medals, Karl kept his emotions in check during competition, using the advantage of already being a champion to stay relaxed.

The victory came just 10 minutes after teammate Sabine Payer won silver in her first Olympic race, giving Austria its second medal and first gold of the Games. Karl's triumph represents the crown jewel of a career that includes five world championship titles alongside his Olympic glory.

That 10-year-old boy from St. Pölten who dreamed of being the fastest snowboarder can finally rest knowing he became something even greater.