Ledecká’s Downhill in Doubt? Snowfall & Czech Surprises in Cortina

The scheduling conflict that threatened to sideline Ester Ledecká from both the Alpine downhill and snowboarding events at the February 8 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics has been resolved, though not to the satisfaction of the Czech superstar. Ledecká has officially chosen to prioritize snowboarding, foregoing her attempt to compete in both sports at the Games.

The decision comes after unsuccessful appeals to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to adjust the schedule, a situation Ledecká described as “a bit of a divine punishment” for the program not being altered. The parallel giant slalom snowboarding final in Livigno, Italy, is set for 1 p.m. on February 8, while the women’s downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. the same day. The approximately four-hour drive between the venues made competing in both events logistically impossible.

Ledecká, the only woman to win gold medals in two different sports at the same Winter Olympics – a feat she accomplished at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games – had hoped to repeat this achievement in Milan-Cortina. She qualified for both the snowboarding and Alpine skiing events, marking the third time she has achieved this dual qualification. Despite this, the IOC did not accommodate a schedule change.

“I cried a bit a few times about it, but we did the best we could,” Ledecká said on Monday. “I understand that it’s not easy to coordinate the program, but I believed that it could be done. I’m the only athlete who has qualified for the event in two sports for the third time, so I was hoping that they would take that into account.”

The decision to focus on snowboarding, specifically the giant slalom, aims for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the discipline. The Czech standout received support in her appeal to the IOC from Johan Eliasch, the head of skiing’s governing body FIS.

Despite the disappointment, there remains a slim possibility that Ledecká could still participate in the downhill event. According to a trainer, if the current heavy snowfall continues for another three or four days, a rescheduling might be considered, though this was stated with a degree of skepticism.

The situation has also highlighted the participation of four Czech female skiers in the downhill event, a somewhat surprising development given the challenging nature of the course and the fact that not all have extensive World Cup experience. Only Bára Nováková was identified by the trainer as a familiar face in speed disciplines, raising questions about the preparedness of the other three athletes.

Elsewhere in Cortina, the focus is also on American ski racer Lindsey Vonn, who is set to compete despite a recent injury. The trainer noted that while racing with a torn ACL is risky, It’s “possible,” citing examples of athletes, including his own brother, who have competed at a high level without fully functional ACLs. However, he acknowledged that Vonn’s decision to compete so soon after the injury is particularly noteworthy.

The ongoing snowfall in Cortina, a location typically known for sunny conditions, has already led to the cancellation of the first downhill training run on Thursday, February 5. This allows course workers to more efficiently clear the snow without the added pressure of a jury inspection and the installation of race gates.

Ledecká’s situation underscores the complexities of scheduling in a multi-sport event like the Olympics, and the difficult choices athletes sometimes face when competing in multiple disciplines. While her attempt at a historic double gold has been thwarted by logistical constraints, her focus now shifts to defending her title in snowboarding and adding to her already remarkable Olympic legacy.