By ERIC WILLEMSEN, Related Press
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — After going her complete profession with out a main championship title, Lara Intestine-Behrami added a second gold medal to her burgeoning assortment from this yr’s snowboarding world championships.
Mikaela Shiffrin, in the meantime, earned a silver medal to present her one in all every colour — and along with her greatest occasion nonetheless to return.
Intestine-Behrami edged Shiffrin for gold within the large slalom on Thursday, making up a deficit on the first-run chief with a blistering last leg to beat the American by two-hundredths of a second.
After Shiffrin had accomplished her run, Intestine-Behrami hugged the American and stormed by way of the end space to have a good time along with her coaches.
“GS has all the time been so necessary for me in my complete profession,” the Swiss skier stated. “I all the time knew that if I’m snowboarding effectively in GS then it’s straightforward to be quick even within the different disciplines.”
Nonetheless, Intestine has been struggling in GS in recent times and did not win a race within the self-discipline since triumphing within the season-opening World Cup race in 2016.
“This yr I used to be coming again step-by-step,” she stated. “Coming to the end line, I had already on my thoughts it’s the primary time I’m successful a medal in GS. To win the gold right here is unbelievable.”
Katharina Liensberger of Austria was 0.09 behind in third in what was the closest end ever of a ladies’s large slalom on the worlds. American skier Nina O’Brien was 0.02 behind in second after the opening run however dropped to tenth after a expensive mistake shortly earlier than ending her last run.
Many pre-race favorites, together with defending champion Petra Vlhova and Italian duo Marta Bassino and Federica Brignone, struggled with course circumstances because the snow floor assorted between grippy, icy and smooth.
Intestine-Behrami grew to become the primary GS world champion from Switzerland since Sonja Nef received the title 20 years in the past. Intestine-Behrami additionally received gold within the super-G and bronze within the downhill at this yr’s worlds.
Shiffrin prolonged her American report along with her tenth profession medal at worlds. She received the mixed occasion on Monday and took bronze within the super-G every week in the past.
Shiffrin dropped 0.14 seconds behind Intestine-Behrami midway by way of her last run however made up time within the flat last part. Settling for silver, she stated she was nonetheless “blissful.”
“The very first thing I noticed was the crimson, however I felt good with my snowboarding. I used to be pushing. It was not an ideal run, however it was aggressive,” stated Shiffrin, who has now received 10 medals from 12 occasions on the worlds since her debut in 2013.
“I’ve by no means been capturing for numerous medals or these data or one thing,” she stated. “Simply each time I race, I need to win.”
Shiffrin has a shot at one other medal on Saturday, when she goals for her fifth straight slalom title.
“This world champs has been very nice,” she stated. “I’m having three medals now going into the ultimate race the place for certain I’ve one other likelihood however it has already been extremely profitable.”
Approaching her greatest profession consequence, O’Brien overcame a scare in between runs when her skis initially failed the usual tools take a look at by organizers.
The Worldwide Ski Federation checks ski dimension and setup after every run primarily based on strict guidelines. Racers whose skis don’t meet the factors are disqualified.
Andreas Krönner, the technical operations supervisor of FIS, stated “there was a difficulty with plate within the binding” on one in all O’Brien’s skis, which exceeded the allowed peak by a mere 0.1 millimeters.
Nonetheless, in accordance with Krönner, the plate was “barely free” and might be moved throughout the tolerance, which allowed O’Brien to begin within the last run.
O’Brien appeared on target for a medal however misplaced management of her left ski when she caught a bump with the end in sight.
“I am somewhat upset that I made that mistake on the backside,” O’Brien stated. “I felt like (the second run) was somewhat bit wild from the start. I simply went for it right now and it appeared to work out first run.”
Vlhova did not make up a deficit of 1.17 seconds from the opening run regardless of her coach, Livio Magoni, setting the gates for the ultimate run.
The general World Cup chief from Slovakia completed 1.90 seconds behind in twelfth.
Italy didn’t stay as much as its standing as important medal contender, with Bassino inserting thirteenth and Federica Brignone snowboarding out 40 seconds into her first run.
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