Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl knew precisely what he would do if he gained a gold medal at this yr’s Winter Olympics; what he hadn’t deliberate for was the response from the remainder of the world.
After retaining his parallel large slalom crown in Livigno on Sunday, the 40-year-old celebrated by ripping off his prime, baring his chest to the frenzied crowd, earlier than flexing his muscle groups and dropping facedown on the snow.
The impassioned celebration was shortly clipped and shared throughout social media, with hundreds having fun with what initially appeared like a launch of unbridled, unrehearsed pleasure.
And whereas Karl was completely over-the-moon along with his gold medal second, the response was very a lot deliberate as a tribute to his hero, Hermann Maier.
The snowboarding legend was one in every of the causes that Karl obtained into the sport, and he would usually have fun his victories by ripping off his prime.
“It was 25 years in my mind when I saw Hermann Maier in 2001 ripping off his shirt after winning the overall World Cup,” Karl instructed NCS Sports on Monday.
“He was my one and only idol and I waited my whole career for the right moment to do it, in tribute to him.”
Karl can now name himself a four-time Olympic medalist, having already gained gold in the identical occasion again in 2022 and silver in his Olympic debut in 2010 at Vancouver. He additionally claimed a bronze medal in the parallel slalom at Sochi 2014.
After his newest win, in his fifth Games, he grew to become the oldest Olympic snowboard medalist ever and Austria’s oldest winter medalist in any sport.
Out of all his medals, although, the first gold in Beijing stands out as the most particular, permitting him to have enjoyable in Milan Cortina.
“The first medal is always super, super special,” Karl stated. “When I used to be 10, I used to be writing on a sheet my targets for all times. I wished to be the quickest snowboarder on Earth, a world champion and an Olympic champion, and while you attain that purpose for the first time, it’s at all times the finest second.
“But for my legacy, this second gold medal is really important, not that I had that in my mind. I just had so much fun. It was just a fun day out, carving down the mountain, through gates. It was a perfect day.”
Karl stated he let himself get pleasure from his gold medal win for a temporary second on Sunday, however assured NCS Sports that he was in mattress by midnight and already specializing in the remaining World Cup season.
The Austrian credit his love for snowboarding to his mom, who he stated obtained him into the world of winter sports activities. But whereas snowboarding grew to become his life, his past love was snowboarding, with Karl saying he may ski earlier than he may even discuss.
But after he discovered snowboarding at 10, the purpose of changing into an Olympian was set.
“Olympics are, for sure, the greatest event for any sportsman,” he stated.
“We have one probability each 4 years, at some point in 4 years, you’re not allowed to be ailing or injured. You should be prepared on today.
“That I made four medals in six chances in my Olympic life, six days out of a 20-year career, it’s just amazing.”