10:30 yesterday
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The slalom in the American Killington had only one winner until last weekend. Mikaela Shiffrin was having an incredible winning streak, she hadn’t found a winner at home for six years.
The biggest threat to her were Veronika Velez-Zuzulová and Petra Vlhová, who were breathing down her neck from the second row during the seasons. The skiing star was finally dethroned by two European women who had never won a World Cup slalom before. With their first career triumph in the most thrilling discipline, they put an end to the American gold and Slovakian silver miniseries.
A draw after 11 years
Anna Swennová-Larrsonová was waiting like tingling in the intermediate leader’s chair after the 2nd round. After her, four of the best from the first race took to the track. Fourth Petra Vlhová jumped into red and fell behind by a total of 44 hundredths of a second. Third Katharina Liensberger did not manage the pitfalls of the climb and also fell while trying to get back on goal. A promising opportunity for the first podium of the season which ended in disqualification.
The second Wendy Holdener kept the lead from the 1st lap, she was in the green numbers in the intermediate times, she was faster by two tenths in the penultimate time. However, the zero lit up at the finish line and the Swede ran to embrace the Swiss. Only Mikaela Shiffrin could spoil their first and joint triumph in the slalom. It would not be the first time.
In the battle for victory, the American defeated Anna Swennová-Larrson twice in the World Cup and Wendy Holdener up to 12 times. This time, however, she didn’t stand a chance in the 2nd round. Although the home star started with a lead of 38 hundredths of a second, the time saved by her gradually decreased with each interval of the broken track, until she dropped to fifth place overall.
His run was the second slowest. Worse only Lena Dürrová, who fell from the gate and had to get back on track. After 11 years, a draw at the World Cup was reborn.
First the medal, then the triumph
While it was the first World Cup slalom triumph for both European women, both have already achieved considerable success in alpine skiing. Anna Swennová-Larrsonová won for the first time at home in the Swedish Aare in the parallel team competition in 2018. Since the World Championships, she has achieved bronze in the team competition (2015) and silver in the slalom (2019) . She waited almost 12 years for first place in the individual World Cup competition.
“It’s unreal. I’m proud of myself, I’ve fought for this all my life. Beating Mikaela, that’s something you don’t happen many times in life. She’s an inspiration, she’s the best skier, so it’s an amazing feeling “. he declared after the match for FISI.
Wendy Holdener has been waiting for the first place in the World Cup slalom for 12 years. In more than a decade she managed to win the World Cup, first in the parallel slalom (2016), twice in the alpine combined (2016, 2018) and twice in the team competition (2016, 2019). She has four championship medals, was twice Alpine combined world champion, once with Switzerland she dominated the team event and has a silver in slalom.
However, it has a larger collection of precious metals from the Olympics. One gold in the team event, two silvers and two bronzes in the alpine combined and slalom. Unlike the Swede she also won two small globes and after 30 slalom podiums she finally celebrated the coveted triumph, which was still missing as one of the last goals of her career.
“I fought hard for it. It tastes sweet, but in an hour or two it will be even crazier. I didn’t even notice it at first. When I saw zero losses for the first Anna at the finish, it was cool. I love skiing and I try to never forget to enjoy it because I’ve had years where it hasn’t been so easy. I haven’t always enjoyed racing.” he conceded after the winning run.
Michelle Gisinová also shared the joy of success. “It took a long time… and now you have your first slalom win. I know how much it means to you, but you were special to me even before that triumph. Your consistency over the years we’ve been on the road together has always been amazing.
I’ve always seen you as one of the best slalom skiers of our generation. This is just the latest confirmation” she congratulated her compatriot via Instagram. An American also paid tribute to both winners via social networks. “Today is your day. Hard and deserved” congratulated Mikaela Shiffrin.
Despite dropping out of the top three in the last race, she maintained her position as leader in the general classification and leads the standings even in the most twisty discipline. The best slalom skiers will compete again on December 11 in Sestriere, Italy.
