New Delhi: Austrian snowboarder Claudia Riegler, 52, did not let the fact that her competitors are much younger, faster and most in their twenties stop her from competing in the Winter Olympics. Gliding effortlessly over the snow at Livingo Snow Park in Italy, Riegler has become the oldest female competitor in the history of the Olympics.
“We set our own limits. I can compete with these young guns,” Riegler told The New York Times. For her, there is “pure joy” in the sport.
On 8 February, Riegler made it to the round 16 by beating competitors who were in their 20s.
But it was 22-year-old Ester Ledecka, who took home the gold medal. The Czech snowboarder is a two-time Olympic champion and was faster than Riegler by 1.13 seconds.
Despite losing the gold, Riegler’s remarkable performance has taken the internet by storm. For many, she is a “hero” .Social media is brimming with comments, calling her a “queen” and her life at 52 as a “future goal”.
At 41, Riegler won gold at the 2015 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships in Austria. She finished second at the Yanqing World Cup in China in 2024.
Journey to Milan 2026 Winter Olympics
Reigler entered the world of the Winter Olympics in 1994. Since then, it has been an uphill journey. In 1996, she won the Harley Davidson as a reward for the World Cup victory in parallel giant slalom. In her hometown of Salzburg, Riegler is often found on her Harley Davidson wandering around the town.
But her ability as a skier was not all she had to prove. After she turned 30 and a coach pointed out that her age might pose a problem in winning future races, Reigler took it upon herself to prove the coach wrong by competing for the next 22 years.
Reigler’s chosen sport, parallel gaunt slalom, requires skills, discipline and high speed. In it, two riders race side-by-side on identical courses.
For her, the journey has been made possible by a strict and nutritious diet, which has barely changed over the last decade, along with weight training and cycling.
“I eat healthily, no McDonald’s,” she said and added that she is actively taking up new challenges like weightlifting. She doesn’t let age dictate her life choices. Reigler said that she takes care of her body, mind and soul.
Her younger sister, Manuela Riegler, is also a fellow Olympian and competitor in the same sport.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)