Slalom princess claims crown
Source: Agencies |
February 17, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AMERICAN teenager Mikaela Shiffrin became the youngest women's slalom world champion in 39 years yesterday.
The 17-year-old Shiffrin finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 39.85 seconds in Schladming, Austria, to beat Michaela Kirchgasser of Austria by 0.22 and Frida Hansdotter of Sweden by 0.26.
Shiffrin's victory earned the United States team its fourth gold and fifth medal overall at the worlds, more than any other nation. Ted Ligety has won three gold medals and Julia Mancuso the super-G bronze.
The only slalom world champions younger than Shiffrin were Hanni Wenzel of Liechtenstein in 1974 and Esme Mackinnon of Britain in 1931.
Shiffrin, nicknamed the slalom princess, had already had a breakthrough year, winning three World Cup slaloms this season to lead the discipline standings.
Third after the first run in Schladming, she put in a blazing second run to take the win.
But she had yet to realize her achievement, the American said after her victory. "I don't know if I ever will. It was crazy, there are so many emotions today.
"I thought I skied solid but probably not to be my potential, my legs were tired.
"Then two minutes before the start of the second run, I felt it and I knew."
Among the Austrians, defending champion Marlies Schild and 2011 silver medalist Kathrin Zettel had been favorites but Kirchgasser outshone them and screamed with joy when she found out she had won her first championship medal.
The 17-year-old Shiffrin finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 39.85 seconds in Schladming, Austria, to beat Michaela Kirchgasser of Austria by 0.22 and Frida Hansdotter of Sweden by 0.26.
Shiffrin's victory earned the United States team its fourth gold and fifth medal overall at the worlds, more than any other nation. Ted Ligety has won three gold medals and Julia Mancuso the super-G bronze.
The only slalom world champions younger than Shiffrin were Hanni Wenzel of Liechtenstein in 1974 and Esme Mackinnon of Britain in 1931.
Shiffrin, nicknamed the slalom princess, had already had a breakthrough year, winning three World Cup slaloms this season to lead the discipline standings.
Third after the first run in Schladming, she put in a blazing second run to take the win.
But she had yet to realize her achievement, the American said after her victory. "I don't know if I ever will. It was crazy, there are so many emotions today.
"I thought I skied solid but probably not to be my potential, my legs were tired.
"Then two minutes before the start of the second run, I felt it and I knew."
Among the Austrians, defending champion Marlies Schild and 2011 silver medalist Kathrin Zettel had been favorites but Kirchgasser outshone them and screamed with joy when she found out she had won her first championship medal.
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