In a thrilling conclusion at the World Cup finals in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Lara Gut-Behrami secured both the women's World Cup overall and giant slalom titles. Despite finishing 10th in the giant slalom event, Gut-Behrami's performance was enough to claim victory.
Her closest competitor, Federica Brignone, won the race but fell short of overtaking Gut-Behrami in the standings. Brignone needed Gut-Behrami to finish outside the top 15 and fail to score points to have a chance at the titles.
Gut-Behrami expressed her elation at the victory, stating, 'It's unbelievable, the GS has always been so important to me.' This win marked Gut-Behrami's first giant slalom title, adding to her world title in the discipline from 2021.
Reflecting on her nerves during the race, Gut-Behrami admitted, 'I was really nervous today because I really wanted to win that. I skied so bad, I was just nervous, so I'm not surprised about that.'
The Swiss skier opted for a cautious approach in both runs, prioritizing safety over speed. She emphasized the importance of crossing the finish line to secure the titles, despite not achieving her best skiing performance.
This victory marks Gut-Behrami's second overall championship, having previously won in 2016. Her triumph comes after Mikaela Shiffrin's two-year reign as the overall champion was interrupted by a knee injury sustained during a downhill race in Italy in January.
Gut-Behrami's consistent season, featuring eight wins and only four finishes outside the top six, solidified her status as a dominant force in alpine skiing. At 33 years old, she becomes the oldest overall champion and the second skier in her 30s to claim the sport's top prize.
Looking ahead, Gut-Behrami is poised to contend for season titles in super-G and downhill, aiming to join an elite group of skiers who have won four classifications in a single season.
Meanwhile, Brignone showcased her prowess by dominating the season-ending event, securing a commanding victory in the giant slalom race. Her performance earned her a 12th career GS win and 27th overall victory.
With Gut-Behrami's historic achievements and Brignone's impressive display of skill, the women's World Cup finals provided a fitting conclusion to an exhilarating season of alpine skiing.
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