Anna Gasser eyes historic third Olympic gold in Milan’s Big Air showdown
Anna Gasser is aiming to make history at the Milan Olympics by becoming the first woman to secure three straight Big Air gold medals. The Austrian snowboarder, already a two-time Olympic champion, has overcome a shoulder injury with only four months of training on snow. Her return to competition begins this month in Laax before a final test at the X Games in the US.
Gasser’s dominance in freestyle snowboarding spans over a decade. She claimed gold for Austria in Big Air at both the 2018 Pyeongchang and 2022 Beijing Olympics. Only American legend Shaun White has matched her feat of three consecutive Olympic wins in snowboarding—though in halfpipe, not Big Air.
Her preparation for Milan includes mastering 1440s (four full rotations) in airbag training, a trick that has previously dazzled judges. Despite her relentless pursuit of excellence, Gasser now views these Games as a 'bonus' chapter. She wants to relish the experience surrounded by family and friends rather than chasing external approval. Peers and rivals already regard her as the 'GOAT' (Greatest of All Time) in snowboarding. Whether she adds another gold or not, her legacy as a pioneer in the sport is firmly cemented.
Gasser’s journey to Milan starts with a World Cup comeback in Laax’s slopestyle event. A strong showing there will set the stage for her Olympic dress rehearsal at the X Games. If successful, she will enter the Games as the first woman with a chance to three-peat in Big Air—an achievement no female snowboarder has ever reached.
