Kajsa Vickhoff Lie takes gold in women's downhill, Sofia Goggia seals fourth World Cup Crystal Globe

BySam Rooke

Updated 04/03/2023 at 12:20 GMT

Sofia Goggia took her fourth women's downhill World Cup crystal globe win, but was not able to claim a sixth gold of the 2022-23 season, as Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie held on for victory. The promising young Norwegian capped an impressive recovery from a bad leg break in 2021 with a first career win in Kvitfjell. Switzerland's Corinne Suter took third, her fourth downhill podium of the season.

The 24-year-old home favourite Kajsa Vickhoff Lie claimed a surprise women's downhill gold in Kvitfjell, while Sofia Goggia took a silver medal which secured the Italian her fourth downhill World Cup Crystal Globe and third in a row.

Lie was just the third skier down the mountain but could not be caught and held on for her first career win.

The Norwegian enjoyed a breakout season in 2021 - earning her first career podium at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany - but missed the entirety of last season with a severe leg injury.

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This season, Lie took another podium on the Olimpia delle Tofane is in Cortina d'Ampezzo, but that came with the notable caveat of Goggia’s absence.

She also became the first Norwegian woman in history to win a downhill event after stopping the clock in a time of 1:32.36.

Being just the third racer, Lie had a long time to wait but admitted afterwards that her biggest fear had been being caught by Goggia.

She said: "You never know, with Goggia, you never know. My heart has never been racing this much."

'A massive roar!' - Lie thrills home crowd in Norway with blistering downhill run

The Italian had won five of the six women's downhill events that she had completed so far this season, finishing second once, but on Saturday she could not match her Norwegian rival.

Goggia finished 0.29 seconds behind, good enough for second place. It also meant she could not be caught in the race for the downhill Crystal Globe.

Ilka Stuhec one of only two skiers other than Goggia to win a women's downhill event this season, was 0.61 seconds back in fourth, while Elena Curtoni - the other winner this season - finished a disappointing 13th.

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A mere 24 hours after breaking the Austrian drought in the super-G, Cornelia Huetter disappointed too, failing to finish.

American legend Mikaela Shiffrin’s bid for a record-equalling 86th career win also goes on, after finishing well off the pace. Norwegian icon Ingemar Stenmark holds on to the overall record for another day at least.

However, in happier news for the American, Shiffrin sealed her fifth overall World Cup Crystal Globe with seven races still remaining in the season. She sits more than 700 points ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami.

Shiffrin will receive her Crystal Globe at the end of the season, putting her level fourth in the all-time World Cup standings.

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