Roland “Roly” Fischnaller, a luminary in international snowboarding, epitomizes resilience and excellence. Renowned for his boundless energy and empathetic connection with fans, Roly boasts a remarkable seventh Olympic appearance at Milan Cortina 2026, an unparalleled feat in winter sports. A specialist in parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom, he debuted in the World Cup in 1999, accumulating 42 podiums and 19 victories, all in parallel slalom. With consistent top-tier performances at six Olympics, including a fourth-place finish in Beijing 2022, Roly also clinched the title of parallel slalom world champion at the 2015 Kreischberg World Championships. His enduring success culminated in winning the overall World Cup in the 2019-2020 season at the age of 39, solidifying his status as a snowboarding icon.
The South Tyrolean returned to the world championship throne in the parallel giant slalom at the World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 2025. The now legendary and unshakable Roly, after climbing the podium 51 times in the Overall World Cup, where he has collected 21 victories and 7 World Championship medals, delivered one of the most remarkable seasons of his late career in 2025/2026. Throughout the season he consistently fought at the very top, securing multiple podium finishes and remaining in contention until the final races for both the World Cup giant slalom parallel discipline title and the most prestigious seasonal standings.
At the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, held on the slopes of Livigno, Fischnaller was among the absolute protagonists of the competition. At nearly 46 years old, he battled for a podium position until the very last stages of the event in both disciplines, confirming once again his extraordinary longevity and competitiveness at the highest level.
To date, this is an unparalleled performance that places him in the “Hall of Fame” of the longest-lasting athletes of all time and the oldest ever to win a world title in parallel giant slalom.
