Mikaela Shiffrin storms to first gold of World Championships and gold No. 7 as Tessa Worley crashes out

ByEurosport

Updated 16/02/2023 at 16:47 GMT

Mikaela Shiffrin finally clinched top spot on the podium in Meribel after a brilliant victory in the giant slalom on Thursday. The American appeared to have thrown away her shot at gold after an error approaching the finish, but she held on to take victory. Local favourite Tessa Worley crashed out in her second run despite looking on course for a medal of her own.

Highlights: Shiffrin storms to first gold of World Championships as Worley crashes out

American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin stormed to her first gold of the 2023 Alpine World Skiing Championships with an impressive victory in the giant slalom on Thursday.

Shiffrin went out last having topped the first run and although she started superbly it looked as if she had lost it in the final sectors, bringing back memories of the combined.

However much to everyone’s surprise, including Shiffrin, she beat Italy's Federica Brignone by just 0.12s, leading to a stunned Shiffrin collapsing to the floor in the finish zone, in disbelief at what she had done.

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The 27-year-old has now won at least one gold medal at every World Championships since 2013.

“I was so nervous,” said Shiffrin afterwards. “My god – I can’t believe it!”

Local favourite Tessa Worley, chasing a record third giant slalom world title, was on course to challenge when she suffered a dramatic crash in her second run.

It was Shiffrin who dominated in the first run, going out third and putting down an impressive time.

Worley was second and Brignone third after Celine Marti – the 93rd skier to complete the course – came home some 58.96s behind Shiffrin..

Brignone excels in giant slalom first run despite illness

New Zealand’s Alice Robinson set the early pace in the second run, with Shiffrin’s compatriot Nina O’Brien taking over the lead through the first 15 racers.

A number of skiers struggled to get to grips with the piste in the second run and Marta Bassino of Italy led despite recording just the 13th fastest run in the first run.

The final sectors in particular seemed to be where a lot of skiers were losing time to Bassino.

Eventually, her top spot when to Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel, who mastered the conditions superbly.

‘I was so nervous’ – Shiffrin says she ‘can’t believe’ giant slalom gold

Finley Mickel said on commentary “Fantastic performance from Mowinckel, pushing the line at every opportunity, having nothing left in the legs when she came over the line.”

However, her lead was short-lived as Brignone, who had been struggling with illness at these championships, flew down after an early error to take the lead and guarantee a medal.

“Brilliant skiing! Coming from her sick bed to the ski piste and at worse a bronze!” roared Nick Fellows on commentary.

Mickel added “She kept the flow going all the way down the second run.

“Look at this for athleticism with the skis bouncing in every direction, she keeps her confidence, her belief in herself to go top!”

Unfortunately, for the home fans it wasn’t to be for Worley, who went out second last of the top 30 skiers and crashed out in heartbreaking fashion.

She was uninjured fortunately, but her chances of what would have been a remarkable third gold medal were over.

And, thus, it was just Shiffrin between Brignone and gold No. 2 of the 2023 Alpine World Skiing Championships. The American suffered a blip late on but managed to secure a seventh world gold of her career.