Stephanie Venier was crowned Super-G World Champion in the first individual decision in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. The 31-year-old Tyrolean claimed gold in splendid weather with a 0.10-second lead over Italy's Federica Brignone. Bronze was shared by the young American Lauren Macuga and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie from Norway (+0.24). With the first gold for the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) athletes in Saalbach, the Austrian team is already more successful than two years ago.

Venier Following in Maier's Footsteps

It is the eighth World Championship gold medal for an Austrian woman in the Super-G, the first since Nicole Schmidhofer in 2017 in St. Moritz. Thirty-four years after Ulrike Maier, another local triumphed in the Super-G at a Saalbach World Championship, on the course now named after Maier, who passed away too soon in 1994. The favorites Cornelia Hütter (10th/+0.91), Sofia Goggia (5th), and Lara Gut-Behrami (8th) went home empty-handed. Ariane Rädler (21st/+1.80) struggled with the course again, and Ricarda Haaser withdrew with a suspected knee injury.

World Champion "sounds unreal," said Venier after the race. "I slept so poorly last night, but still felt good during the warm-up. Everything just fell into place. While skiing, I realized things were progressing, I could push into the crouch." She was extremely nervous at the start. "Somehow, the circle closes again. I lost the globe here last year, and now a year later, I've won gold. In life, everything somehow comes back."

Second Medal at Ski World Championships

It is her second World Championship medal after downhill silver in 2017 in St. Moritz. "In 2017, I was a different Stephi, with youthful recklessness. Now I am more mature, grown-up - and apparently more nervous," said Venier, laughing. On Thursday, she excelled on a very fast, downhill-like Super-G set by Austrian USA coach Alexander Hödlmoser. US superstar Lindsey Vonn could not capitalize on her coach's groundwork with start number 30 and crashed after a few seconds.

Haaser started with the 3 from an Austrian perspective but crashed with a backward landing after a jump. The Tyrolean all-rounder then carefully slid down to the valley and was examined at the hospital for a knee injury. Brignone with the 6 was the first top favorite to set a new time and celebrated exuberantly at the finish. Venier squeezed out an additional tenth of a second with top speed after the panorama jump.

Gut-Behrami's Streak Broken

Gut-Behrami couldn't keep up with the further line and missed the chance to become the first woman to win four Super-G medals at World Championships. Goggia raced as usual with a knife between her teeth but made mistakes. Ester Ledecka became more dangerous, being just 2/100 behind Venier after a minute, but lost everything in the finish. Macuga's run was also nerve-wracking.

Hütter, on the other hand, did not have an optimal run. After difficulties at the Panorama jump, the co-favorite's deficit gradually grew to nine-tenths. "There are days when you lose and there are days when others win," said Hütter. "Right now, it's just very emotionless and empty. But I think it can be that way too. I imagined it differently. I was always a bit too early, I just didn't hit the push to the gate at all, right from the first gates."

"Incredible Day"

Vickhoff Lie managed to repeat a special feat. Two years ago, the Norwegian also won Super-G bronze - back then tied with Hütter. "It's nice to share that together. It's very nice when an Austrian woman wins a gold medal here in Austria. That's good for our sport and I really like the Austrian girls." Macuga, wearing a floral-fisherman hat in US attire, was no less euphoric. "I can't contain myself. It's so cool."

ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober beamed after the botched team event. "I have goosebumps, I had tears. Today is an incredible day for Ski Austria," said Stadlober. "But one must not forget, Rici Haaser probably has a knee injury. Luck and misfortune are so close together." Women's head coach Roland Assinger fought back tears. "World Champion Stephanie Venier sounds great. Hats off, great body language, everything worked out." The medal is "extremely important" for the whole team.

(APA/Red)

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