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 Italian 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) once again struggled with the course, and Ricarda Haaser was injured and had to withdraw.

The all-rounder suffered a cruciate ligament and medial meniscus tear in her right knee. She will undergo surgery on Thursday at the Hochrum Clinic, the ÖSV announced. Haaser had fallen backward upon landing after a jump. An MRI examination revealed the severe knee injury and the premature end of her season.

With Haaser out, an athlete planned as a major competitor for the home World Championships is missing. She had potential starts in the downhill, giant slalom, and team combination. In the downhill on Saturday and the team combination, Ariane Rädler might still have further opportunities to compete.

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 position." 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 the 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 and laughed. On Thursday, she excelled on a super-G course set by Austrian USA coach Alexander Hödlmoser, which was extremely fast and similar to a downhill. US superstar Lindsey Vonn could not capitalize on her coach's groundwork with start number 30 and crashed after just a few seconds. Brignone with number 6 was the first top favorite to set a new benchmark 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 could not 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 dangerous, being just 2/100 behind Venier after a minute, but lost everything in the finish. Macuga's run also had everyone on edge.

Hütter, on the other hand, did not have an optimal run. After difficulties at the panorama jump, the deficit of the co-favorite 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 with each other. 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 flower-fisher 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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