Benjamin Karl celebrates Olympic gold with a shirtless tribute to Hermann Maier, ends 25-year wait

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Snowboarder Benjamin Karl might be looking for a new nickname after the Austrian’s impressive victory celebration following his second straight Olympic title.

After winning gold in the men’s parallel giant slalom on Sunday at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Karl stripped off his shirt, did a huge weightlifter flex, then fell bare-chested into the snow.

The move might have seemed spontaneous, but Karl said it was a long-planned tribute to alpine skiing legend Hermann Maier, who was nicknamed “The Herminator” and often celebrated victories in a similar manner.

“He was one of the greatest skiers of all time in Austria and he once did this,” Karl said. “I always wanted to do the same. I lost the chance in Beijing because I was so overwhelmed from emotions, and today I took the chance.

“I needed to wait 25 years to make this pose like Hermann Maier. Now I did it and this is the crown of my career.”

The 40-year-old Karl is competing at his fifth Olympics. As well as the gold he won four years ago in Beijing, he has a silver medal from 2010 and bronze from 2014.

Karl also has a slew of world championship medals, including five golds.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Austria's Benjamin Karl celebrates winning the gold medal against South Korea's Kim Sang-kyum in the men's snowboarding parallel giant slalom finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Austria's Benjamin Karl celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's snowboarding parallel giant slalom finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Austria's Benjamin Karl celebrates after winning the gold medal in men's snowboarding parallel giant slalom finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Austria's Benjamin Karl takes off his shirt as he celebrates winning the gold medal after the men's snowboarding parallel giant slalom finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Austria's Benjamin Karl celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's snowboarding parallel giant slalom finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

STUTTGART, Germnany (AP) — Elena Rybakina defeated Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix for the second time.

It’s the first time the 26-year-old 2024 champion won a repeat title after claiming 12 in different tournaments previously.

The No. 2-ranked Rybakina converted four of her eight break-point opportunities to beat Muchova in 1 hour, 18 minutes.

Muchova was playing in her second final of the year after winning in Qatar. She was going for her third career title.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina reacts to winning a point as she plays against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova, during the women's final match at the Stuttgart Open tennis tournament, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) CORRECTION:name corrected to Elena instead of Jelena

Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova returns a shot to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, during the women's final match at the Stuttgart Open tennis tournament, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) CORRECTION:name corrected to Elena instead of Jelena