Two-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecká has announced a major overhaul of her alpine skiing coaching team ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The decision was confirmed in a press release distributed by Ledecká’s management on Monday, April 27, 2026.
“Franz decided that at his age, he will now focus on hunting game, bottling honey and dedicating himself to his grandson, who is a promising 12-year-old skier.
Two-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecká has announced a major overhaul of her alpine skiing coaching team ahead of the 2026-27 season. Longtime coaches Tomáš Bank and Franz Gamper, who guided Ledecká through her most successful years on skis, will step away from their roles, marking the end of a decade-long partnership that produced historic results.
Coaches Leave After Decade of Success
The decision was confirmed in a press release distributed by Ledecká’s management on Monday, April 27, 2026. Gamper, an Italian coach who has worked with Ledecká since her early skiing career, will retire to focus on personal pursuits, including mentoring his 12-year-old grandson, an aspiring skier. Ledecká paid tribute to Gamper, calling their collaboration “immensely successful” and describing her time with him as “incredibly inspiring.”
From Instagram — related to Ester Ledeck, Pyeongchang Olympics
“Franz decided that at his age, he will now focus on hunting game, bottling honey and dedicating himself to his grandson, who is a promising 12-year-old skier. Our collaboration was very successful, and the time I spent alongside such a sporting legend was incredibly inspiring.”
Ester Ledecká
Tomáš Bank, who served as Ledecká’s primary ski coach for a decade, also confirmed his departure. Bank was instrumental in Ledecká’s biggest skiing achievements, including her shocking gold medal in the super-G at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, where she became the first athlete to win gold in two different sports at the same Winter Games. While Ledecká did not elaborate on Bank’s reasons for leaving, she acknowledged his pivotal role in her career.
New Faces Yet to Be Revealed
Ledecká has not yet named her new coaching staff but hinted that changes are already underway. She revealed that she recently tested Kästle skis in Italy with an unnamed coach, describing the experience as “sensational.” She also mentioned that the new coach has already selected an assistant, whom she had the opportunity to train with.
Ester Ledeck World Cup Milano Cortina Olympics
“It was sensational. After signing the contract—or rather, before the season—I’ll be very happy to reveal who it is. The new coach has already found an assistant, whom I also had the chance to get to know during training.”
Ester Ledecká
The announcement comes as Ledecká continues to balance her dual career in alpine skiing and snowboarding. While she has not yet officially concluded her 2025-26 season—spending the offseason testing equipment—she has already signaled her focus for the upcoming year. In October 2025, she confirmed that she would prioritize snowboarding at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, where she aims to become the first snowboarder to win the same event at three consecutive Games.
Reflecting on a Strong Season
Despite the coaching changes, Ledecká remains in strong form. She described the 2025-26 season as the second-most successful of her skiing career, highlighted by a World Cup victory in snowboard parallel giant slalom in Austria. Her recent performances have also bolstered her statistics—nearly half of her World Cup starts this season ended in victory, a milestone she playfully acknowledged after seeing the numbers on the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) Instagram account.
“I don’t keep track of them myself, but it popped up on FIS’s Instagram, and I thought it was nice. Of course, many of us would have preferred to swap that one win for the one that didn’t go my way (the Olympic snowboard race), but then I wouldn’t have improved my World Cup stats.”
Ester Ledeck Milano Cortina Olympics
Ester Ledecká
Ledecká’s ability to excel in two distinct winter sports has made her one of the most unique athletes in Olympic history. After winning gold in both super-G skiing and snowboard parallel giant slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, she repeated her snowboarding success in Beijing 2022, where she narrowly missed a podium finish in skiing. Her decision to focus on snowboarding at the upcoming Milano Cortina Olympics—while still competing in super-G—reflects her strategic approach to balancing both disciplines.
Looking Ahead
With the coaching transition underway, Ledecká’s immediate focus remains on preparing for the 2026-27 season. While she has not yet disclosed her full competition schedule, she has previously indicated plans to increase her snowboarding commitments. In a recent interview, she noted that competing in at least one snowboard race before the Olympics helped her adjust to the different rhythm of the sport compared to skiing.
As she enters the next phase of her career, Ledecká’s ability to adapt—both in her training staff and her competitive strategy—will be key to maintaining her elite status in two demanding sports. For now, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see who joins her team and how the changes impact her performance on the slopes and the snowboard course.
