They knew that they needed an exploit to win a medal. Nevertheless, alpine snowboarders Julie Zogg and Dario Caviezel are bitterly disappointed after their round of 16 exit.
08.02.2026, 15:42
SDA
Julie Zogg in particular, who will end her career at the end of the season, has to swallow empty several times during the analysis. "My coaches and I did everything we could to be ready on that day," says the 33-year-old from Sargans, who changed her technique at the start of the season. Things had looked good for Zogg for a long time in her round of 16 match. "And then, unfortunately, I got a bit nervous again."
The Olympic medal was what the two-time world champion and parallel World Cup winner was missing. "It's really hard right now that it didn't work out," says Zogg, who had felt good in the run-up to the event - so good, in fact, that she formulated the Olympic medal as a clear goal. "I think it's quite possible that it will work again in the next race and I'll be on the podium. Then it would just be one race too late."
Nevertheless, she is grateful to have already experienced so many wonderful things in her career. Now she hopes that the button will still come loose in the last World Cup races and that she can celebrate a conciliatory end to her career.
Discipline under observation
It sounded similar for Dario Caviezel. "I gave it my all and threw myself into the gates," says the 30-year-old from Graubünden. "But the guy next to me was a bit better. I can't influence that." He also started the competition with great self-confidence and had the confidence to compete for the medals. Seventh place in qualifying was a solid start, but he was unable to build on this.
Now he has to postpone the realization of his dream, Caviezel sums up. In four years' time, when the Olympic Games take place in the French Alps, he wants to attack again - provided the discipline is still Olympic. Last year, the IOC announced that it would observe the parallel giant slalom until after the Winter Games and only then decide whether to include it in the 2030 program.
"I hope those responsible have noticed the great atmosphere here," says Caviezel. "The sport offers so many close duels and spectacles. It must remain an Olympic sport."
Similar to four years ago
Either way, the alpine snowboarders from Switzerland are in danger of losing touch internationally after this latest disappointment. Of the six athletes who competed in Livigno, only two made it through to the knockout phase. Zogg, Caviezel and Patrizia Kummer, who has since retired, had already finished in the round of 16 in Beijing 2022.
With the upcoming retirements of Zogg and Ladina Caviezel, the situation is likely to get even worse. The Olympians Flurina Bätschi (22) and Xenia von Siebenthal (18) are showing good signs, but are still not consistent enough overall. There is hardly anyone in the men's team behind Caviezel and Gian Casanova (25). The Swiss federation needs to think again.
