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Maze earns second World Championship gold medal
As the last skier down the mountain, Slovenia’s Tina Maze spoiled the Austrian party as she won the gold medal, topping Nicole Hosp by 0.22 seconds in the ladies’ Alpine Combined a the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek.
Maze now has three medals at these Championships including the downhill gold, super-G silver and today’s golden effort.
“I’m totally exhausted, it’s a tough program and late start time for the slalom and it's also really warm,” said Maze. “But winning is always amazing and now there’s time to recover and enjoy. Even though I’m tired I did my best and I'm happy with the win.”
Until Maze skied down, the leader box was filled with Austrians as they were in pole position to sweep the podium. Hosp stood in the lead ahead of teammates Michaela Kirchgasser and Anna Fenninger. Ultimately, Hosp took home the silver, her sixth-ever World Championship medal, while Kirchgasser held on for the bronze, her second-ever individual medal at the World Championships.
Maze’s run bumped Fenninger to fourth place and off the podium, which seemed only fitting as the two have enjoyed a friendly rivalry at these Championships dueling for gold and silver in the speed events.
Austria now tops the overall medal standings with three gold medals and two silvers and one bronze, but Maze takes bragging rights as the top individual skier thus far with her three medals.
The conditions for today’s race were nearly ideal with beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures greeting the field. Much like the men’s Alpine combined, the snow for the slalom race was a bit soft due to the sunny conditions, but the later skiers managed to still put down some of the quicker slalom times.
“It’s amazing for me, I’m so happy about this medal,” said Hosp. “It was a long day and a hard race. I think the finish part of the downhill I was really fast and I had a good slalom and I was happy to sit in the lead until Tina came down with her really good run.”
After the downhill portion, Maze was the leader with a time of 1:45:25, a mere 0.02 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut, who finished the day in fifth place. Fenninger (AUT) ended the downhill in third place 0.26 seconds back. Maze was the fifth-fastest skier in the slalom, 0.98 behind the fastest slalom time set by Kirchgasser.
“I had a really good downhill run and my slalom was nearly a perfect run. I am so happy with my bronze medal this year after just missing the podium in fourth place in Schladming,” said Kirchgasser.
Lindsey Vonn, who finished seventh in the downhill, was a DNF after the straddled a gate near the top of the slalom course. The hometown fans gave her an ovation as she entered the finish area.
Tomorrow the action heads to Vail and the Golden Peak venue for the Nations Team Event at 14:15.
Source: fis-ski.com
Maze now has three medals at these Championships including the downhill gold, super-G silver and today’s golden effort.
“I’m totally exhausted, it’s a tough program and late start time for the slalom and it's also really warm,” said Maze. “But winning is always amazing and now there’s time to recover and enjoy. Even though I’m tired I did my best and I'm happy with the win.”
Until Maze skied down, the leader box was filled with Austrians as they were in pole position to sweep the podium. Hosp stood in the lead ahead of teammates Michaela Kirchgasser and Anna Fenninger. Ultimately, Hosp took home the silver, her sixth-ever World Championship medal, while Kirchgasser held on for the bronze, her second-ever individual medal at the World Championships.
Maze’s run bumped Fenninger to fourth place and off the podium, which seemed only fitting as the two have enjoyed a friendly rivalry at these Championships dueling for gold and silver in the speed events.
Austria now tops the overall medal standings with three gold medals and two silvers and one bronze, but Maze takes bragging rights as the top individual skier thus far with her three medals.
The conditions for today’s race were nearly ideal with beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures greeting the field. Much like the men’s Alpine combined, the snow for the slalom race was a bit soft due to the sunny conditions, but the later skiers managed to still put down some of the quicker slalom times.
“It’s amazing for me, I’m so happy about this medal,” said Hosp. “It was a long day and a hard race. I think the finish part of the downhill I was really fast and I had a good slalom and I was happy to sit in the lead until Tina came down with her really good run.”
After the downhill portion, Maze was the leader with a time of 1:45:25, a mere 0.02 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut, who finished the day in fifth place. Fenninger (AUT) ended the downhill in third place 0.26 seconds back. Maze was the fifth-fastest skier in the slalom, 0.98 behind the fastest slalom time set by Kirchgasser.
“I had a really good downhill run and my slalom was nearly a perfect run. I am so happy with my bronze medal this year after just missing the podium in fourth place in Schladming,” said Kirchgasser.
Lindsey Vonn, who finished seventh in the downhill, was a DNF after the straddled a gate near the top of the slalom course. The hometown fans gave her an ovation as she entered the finish area.
Tomorrow the action heads to Vail and the Golden Peak venue for the Nations Team Event at 14:15.
Source: fis-ski.com
