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Swiss Wendy Holdener is one of the best alpine skiers and her private collection jagizes various achievements in the form of trophies, globes or medals from the World Cup, world championships and the Olympic Games.
At the same time, she holds a frustrating record. No other World Cup rider has won such a high number of podiums in a single event without a single win. On Sunday, before the start of the race, it was 11 years for Holdener, more precisely 4075 days and 99 slalom starts without first place, but with 28 second and third places.
She started her jubilee in Kranjska Gora really magnificently, when she took the lead after the first round and left the best of the best behind her. 8 hundredths by Petra Vlhová and 25th by Mikael Shiffrin. “I just found out this is my 100th slalom. Of course, it would be very nice if we finally managed to win. During the inspection, I saw that there were some irregularities on the track. But I had no problem handling it even in difficult conditions. ”
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Wendy Holdenerová
Zdroj: SITA / AP
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Everything indicated that he could break his curse. Shiffrin did not finish the second ride, her only Slovak skier is still in her way. In the second round, Holdener bravely kept a small lead of seven hundredths of a second over Vlhová in the upper passages, which she gained in the morning. At the last time, however, she was already losing, but they were still only hundreds that she could delete. After crossing the finish line, she immediately fixed her eyes on the scoreboard.
The figure of +0.23 was in a red box and her name was lit by a blue two. For the second time in Kranjska Gora and 14 times in his career. The magnificent triumph failed even on the day of a significant milestone. Not even 100 slaloms were enough for Holdener to win. She had to settle for the 29th stage in her career.
The first Vlhová, who turned the happy ending of the Swiss fairy tale into a prologue to Slovak success at the upcoming Olympics, had slight remorse. “I’m a little sad about her, she’s always second. But that’s the way it is, that’s what sport is about, “ stated after the victory.
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Wendy Holdenerová a Petra Vlhová
Zdroj: SITA / AP
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However, the sadness was the last thing the Swiss would think about. Holdener had the smile of a champion on her face and instead of Kara and the last farewell to her first triumph in her career, she had a small Slovenian wedding party with a silver bar. She gladly accepted the gifts and sprayed most of the team with champagne after the award. She also wanted Vlhová, but she gestured to her that she preferred not to. She didn’t even miss throwing a bouquet.
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Wendy Holdenerová
Zdroj: SITA / AP
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The reason for the celebration was simple. After two years, she managed to finish in second place again, moreover in the same place. Holdener was thrilled by the opportunity to approach the coveted triumph. “I am more happy than disappointed because it was nice to be last at the start and have the opportunity to win. I’m grateful for that. I went really well, but I made a mistake that cost me a lot. ”
PHOTO: She celebrated like a winner. See how Holdener enjoyed the finish line >>