Versatile Ledecka wins parallel giant slalom at snowboard world championships

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Ester Ledecka added another trophy to her collection of silverware when she won the parallel giant slalom at the snowboard world championships on Thursday.

The three-time Olympic champion, who won bronze in the downhill at the Alpine skiing worlds in February, was in a class of her own and dominated qualification then easily defeated all of her rivals en route to the final. There, she beat the defending women’s parallel giant slalom champion Miki Tsubaki of Japan.

It was Ledecka's first snowboard world title in eight years.

The versatile Czech athlete already had two golds and a silver from parallel giant slalom races at the snowboarding worlds in 2015 and 2017.

“It’s awesome,” Ledecka said. “I haven’t competed in a world championships since (2017) because it was difficult with timing because of skiing events.”

Aleksandra Krol-Walas of Poland won the bronze medal race over Ladina Caviezel of Switzerland.

Ledecka famously won Olympic gold in skiing’s super-G and snowboarding’s parallel GS at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and added another gold on her board in 2022 in Beijing.

A scheduling issue at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics — where the parallel GS in snowboarding and the Alpine downhill are both set for Feb. 8 at venues hours apart — might deny her a chance to replicate that achievement from 2018.

Roland Fischnaller of Italy, who is 44, won the men's title by defeating Stefan Baumeister of Germany in the final. Lee Sang-ho won the bronze medal.

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Czech Republic's Ester Ledecka reacts after winning the gold medal in a women's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom event at the Freestyle World Championships, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

Czech Republic's Ester Ledecka reacts after winning the gold medal in a women's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom event at the Freestyle World Championships, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

Czech Republic's Ester Ledecka, back to camera, hugs Switzerland's Ladina Caviezel at the finish area of a Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom event at the Freestyle World Championships, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

Czech Republic's Ester Ledecka in action at the Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom event at the Freestyle World Championships, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.

Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.

“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”

During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.

He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.

“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”

While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.

Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”

Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.

Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.

“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”

He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)