What a way to close the season. Katharina Liensberger achieved the best time in both runs and grabs the Slalom Crystal Globe.
Liensberger added the discipline title to the gold medal in Slalom she won at the world championships in Cortina. The 23 y.o. is the second Austrian skier to win the women's Slalom world title and crystal globe in the same year, after Marlies Schild in 2010-2011. Schild was the last Austrian woman to win the slalom title. Only Swiss women have won the Slalom globe (14 times) more times than the Austrian women (12).
She finished on the podium in 8 of 9 Slalom races. She is the first Austrian woman to win back-to-back slalom events in the World Cup since Schild in December 2013.
Austria is now the first country with eight different winners of the women's Slalom globe.
Liensberger topped the final slalom rankings with 690 points, ahead of Shiffrin (655) and Vlhova (652).
"This globe means so much to me because I did everything that I could, (...) I knew from last season that I was getting better, I always wanted to get better and I did everything for that (...) I don’t think I can ask for anything more, or that it can get any better”, said Liensberger.
Katharina Liensberger Statistics
FIS World Cup Starts: 76
FIS World Cup Podiums: 11
FIS World Cup Victories: 2
Women's Slalom World Cup Final Standings
Katharina Liensberger 690
Mikaela Shiffrin 655
Petra Vlhova 652
Michelle Gisin 491
Wendy Holdener 415
Mikaela Shiffrin finished in second place +1.24 behind Liensberger. In her last 52 slalom participation in the World Cup, Shiffrin finished on the podium 48 times (36 wins).
Michelle Gisin rounded out the podium in third place +1.95 behind the Austrian. Michelle Gisin won the slalom in Semmering last December, her first World Cup win in any discipline.
Petra Vlhova finished in the sixth position but was able to achieve her main goal for the season: to win the Big Crystal Globe. Vlhova is the first skier representing Slovakia to win the overall title. Slovakia is the 15th country to win the overall Crystal Globe on the men's or women's side.
“This season for me was really difficult, I did a lot of races and it was very long, (...) But now I can say I did it. Coming from Slovakia, I don’t have a big team, we’re not a big ski nation, so to bring the Globe home means a lot to me and my country. I think I need time to realize everything, but I look forward to bringing the Globe home and celebrating with my friends and family”, said Vlhova.
"I’m still a bit disappointed after today's slalom because I was leading the slalom race all season long and then I make this not great result in the last race of the season. I have to get a good night’s sleep so tomorrow’s better. Tomorrow, probably for the first time in my life, I will race without pressure, so I will try to enjoy it and race patiently while giving it all, like I always do", she added.
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