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Happy day in Switzerland in Super-G: Lara Gut-Behrami becomes Olympic champion, Michelle Gisin takes bronze.
The medals
- 1. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) 1:13.51 minutes
- 2. Miriam Puchner (AUT) +0.22
- 3. Michelle Gisin (SUI) +0.30
Lara Gut-Behrami is Olympic champion in Super-G! Acted as one of numerous medal contenders, the Ticino native delivered with start number 7. In the meantime, the 30-year-old was almost 7 tenths ahead thanks to a fantastic middle section. She lost a part of it by the finish, but it was still enough for the best time. Gut-Behrami took the lead ahead of Mirjam Puchner, teammate Michelle Gisin slipped to intermediate 3rd place.
Now the big tremors began for the two Swiss women. After all, only 7 riders were down. It got really dicey, surprisingly, but never more. None of the following athletes, including the two highly regarded Italians Federica Brignone and Elena Curtoni, came even close to Gut-Behrami’s time. And with Gisin, too, the certainty that bronze would be enough increased by the minute.
After bronze in the giant slalom at this year’s games and downhill bronze in Sochi in 2014, it is Gut-Behrami’s third Olympic medal – but the first gold medal. In addition, the Ticino has achieved a special feat: As the reigning world champion in a discipline, no one has managed to become an Olympic champion before her.
A special satisfaction is the bronze medal for Gisin. In the slalom, the Engelberg woman had taken second place at halftime, but then fell back to sixth place and cried bitter tears of disappointment. Now the combined Olympic champion from Pyeongchang managed to get a second Olympic medal.
The other Swiss women
- 12. Jasmine Flury +0.92
- 13. Corinne Suter +0.98
The other two Swiss missed out on the top 10. Corinne Suter was able to keep up with Gut-Behrami after the start, but then the Schwyzer lost some speed due to a few slides and lost more than a second at times. Jasmine Flury didn’t fare much better. She lined up directly in front of Suter.
Shiffrin and Ledecka in the top 10
It was another disappointment for Mikaela Shiffrin. The American brought her journey to the finish differently than in giant slalom and slalom. But she was never able to seriously intervene in the fight for a medal.
Ester Ledecka also remained without a medal. The Czech, who sensationally became Olympic champion in the Super-G in Pyeongchang with start number 26, was second in line this time. Her best time didn’t last long, but in the end, finishing 5th was enough for her to earn a diploma. Ledecka still leaves Beijing as an Olympic champion. The 26-year-old won gold in the parallel giant slalom of alpine snowboarders.
This is how it goes
The next women’s race is scheduled for next Tuesday with the downhill. So enough time to familiarize yourself with the route. The first training is already scheduled for Saturday. The next alpine race at the Winter Games in Beijing will take place early on Sunday morning. Then the medals will be awarded in the men’s giant slalom.