Born: 1995 (Prague, Czech Republic)
Biography:
Ester Ledecká (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɛstɛr ˈlɛdɛtskaː], born 23 March 1995) is a Czech snowboarder and alpine skier. She made history at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang by winning gold medals in the super-G in alpine skiing and the parallel giant slalom in snowboarding. Ledecká became the first person to not only compete in the Winter Olympics using two different types of equipment, skis and snowboard, but also to win two gold medals in two different disciplines at the same Winter Olympics.
Born in Prague, Ledecká grew up in a sporting family. Her mother, Zuzana, was a figure skater, and her father, Janek Ledecký, is a well-known musician in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Her maternal grandfather, Jan Klapáč, was a former ice hockey player and a seven-time World Championship and two-time Olympic medalist. With such a family background, it is no surprise that Ledecká found her passion for sports at an early age.
Ledecká initially started with ice hockey as a child, following in the footsteps of her older brother. However, at the age of four, she discovered skiing and later added snowboarding to her repertoire. She excelled in both sports and pursued them with dedication and determination.
In her career, Ledecká competed in her first World Cup tournament in the 2012-2013 season, finishing 13th in the parallel giant slalom event. At the age of 17, she won gold in the parallel slalom event at the Junior World Championships, proving her talent and potential in snowboarding. She was recognized as the Junior Sportsperson of the year at the Czech Republic’s 2013 Sportsperson of the Year awards.
Continuing her success, Ledecká showcased her skills in the 2013-2014 FIS Snowboard World Cup. She placed second in the first parallel slalom event in Bad Gastein and won gold in the parallel giant slalom event at Rogla, becoming the first Czech to achieve this feat. Her victory also marked only the third time a Czech athlete had won any World Cup snowboarding event.
Ledecká’s versatility as an athlete was fully realized at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She stunned the world by claiming gold in the super-G in alpine skiing, defeating renowned skiers who specialized in the discipline. Just four days later, she achieved yet another remarkable feat by clinching the gold medal in the parallel giant slalom in snowboarding. Her double gold success made her the second woman in history to win Olympic gold in two separate disciplines and the first to accomplish this feat at the same Winter Olympics.
These extraordinary accomplishments solidified Ledecká’s place as a trailblazer in winter sports. Her ability to excel in two different disciplines and win gold medals in both demonstrates her unmatched skill, technique, and determination. Ledecká’s achievements have left an indelible mark on the history of women’s winter sports and have inspired future generations of athletes.
Awards:
– Gold Medal in Super-G, 2018 Winter Olympics
– Gold Medal in Parallel Giant Slalom, 2018 Winter Olympics
– Junior Sportsperson of the year at the Czech Republic’s 2013 Sportsperson of the Year awards.