Czech snowboard great Ledecka fails in bid for third straight Olympic gold / Photo: Jeff PACHOUD - AFP
-
Imagine Dragons frontman chases childhood video game dream
-
Teenage sprint star Gout powers to 200m win in blistering 19.67sec
-
China's energy strategy pays off as Mideast war cramps supplies: analysts
-
Hungarians vote in closely watched election, with Orban's rule on line
-
Mideast war takes a bite out of Filipino street food vendors
-
Crime-weary Peru votes for ninth president in a decade
-
Vance says talks failed to reach deal with Iran on ending Mideast war
-
New York's teen spirit frustrates Messi, Miami
-
Vance says talks failed to reach agreement with Iran
-
'Stop hiring humans'? Silicon Valley confronts AI job panic
-
Force rue missed opportunities after another Super Rugby defeat
-
Ireland's Lowry becomes first with two Masters aces
-
'Mental toughness' hailed after Reds snap 15-year Crusaders curse
-
Justin Bieber fans flood Coachella festival for headlining show
-
Saturday charge has Young in sight of first major title at Masters
-
McIlroy looking for answers after squandered Masters lead
-
McIlroy and Young share lead after Masters third round
-
Lavelle marks 100th cap with goal in US win over Japan
-
Artemis crew urges unity on 'lifeboat' Earth
-
US, Iran talks extend into second day as strait showdown deepens
-
Former heavyweight king Fury outpoints Makhmudov, calls out Joshua
-
Former heavyweight king Fury outpoints Makhmudov on ring return
-
Two-time champ Scheffler surges up Masters leaderboard
-
McIlroy scrambles to hold off rivals and keep Masters lead
-
Milan's Serie A title hopes in tatters after shock Udinese defeat, Juve fourth
-
Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine falters
-
US warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance op
-
Playoff seedings on line as grueling NBA regular-season comes to close
-
Ngumoha's 'special' impact no surprise to Slot
-
Arsenal suffer major title blow as Liverpool earn vital win
-
US, Iran hold high-level peace talks in Pakistan
-
Over 200 arrested at pro-Palestinian rally in London
-
McIlroy tees off with six-stroke Masters lead
-
Record-breaking Bayern march closer to Bundesliga title
-
World champions England make winning start to Women's Six Nations
-
Yamal shines as Barca thrash Espanyol to extend Liga lead
-
Drean double sets Toulon up for Champions Cup semi against Leinster
-
Salah, Ngumoha ease Liverpool crisis with Fulham win
-
Arsenal suffer huge title blow as Liverpool earn vital win
-
Samson smashes hundred as Chennai notch first win of IPL season
-
Bayern Munich set Bundesliga record with 102nd goal of season
-
Milan's Serie A title hopes in tatters after shock Udinese defeat
-
Alcaraz and Sinner battle for No.1 spot in Monte Carlo final
-
In fiery speech, Pope Leo says 'Enough to war!'
-
Andreeva to face Potapova in Linz WTA final
-
Holders Italy, Britain into BJK Cup finals, USA knocked out
-
Arsenal suffer title 'punch' by Bournemouth, Everton hold Brentford
-
Drean double breaks Glasgow hearts as Toulon reach Champions Cup semis
-
Teen star Seixas seals Basque Tour triumph, August wins sixth stage
-
Scores arrested at pro-Palestinian rally in London
Czech snowboard great Ledecka fails in bid for third straight Olympic gold
Czech snowboard star Ester Ledecka crashed out of the women's parallel giant slalom on Sunday, ending her hopes of a historic third straight gold in the sport.
The world champion topped qualifying in the PGS, a head-to-head race through gates on two parallel courses marked red and blue.
The 30-year-old then cruised through her last-16 contest but came unstuck in the quarter-finals against Austria's Sabine Payer.
Ledecka made a mistake near the top of the course and Payer held onto her lead, winning by 0.06 seconds.
No snowboarder has ever won three straight Olympic titles.
Ledecka already has a unique place in Olympic history as the only woman to secure gold in two different sports at the same Games after winning the parallel giant slalom and alpine skiing's super-G at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
She is likely to compete in the Super-G later at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Ledecka is lobbying to keep PGS on the Olympic programme, with the sport, introduced at Salt Lake City in 2002, facing an uncertain future.
She said in an Instagram post that she had chosen to prioritise snowboarding at the 2026 Games "because it's an amazing sport, which for sure belongs to the Olympics".
S.F.Warren--AMWN