. world ski news : Are 2007: SL ladies - 17 Ôåâðóàðè 2007 - 17:03
Are: Zahrobska upends Schild, Paerson for SL gold
By Sam Flickinger
Friday, 16 February 2007
ARE, Sweden — Sarka Zahrobska won the women's slalom on Friday to give the Czech Republic its first gold medal at an Alpine Skiing World Championships.
Zahrobska, the surprise bronze medalist from the last worlds in Bormio, Italy, in 2005, led after the first run. She preserved her lead the second time down the floodlit Gastrappet course to win with a combined time of 1 minute, 43.91 seconds.
"I expected to be on the podium but not at the top," said Zahrobska, who has posted the first two World Cup podiums of her career this season. "I'm glad I managed it."
Zahrobska managed to hold off current World Cup slalom leader Marlies Schild of Austria — but barely. Schild sizzled the second time down the Gastrappet course, clocking a two-run time of 1:44.02.
Reigning Olympic champion Anja Paerson of Sweden — who was aiming to become the first skier to win four gold medals at a single World Championships — took the bronze in 1:44.07.
American Resi Stiegler made a major recovery early on in her second run to finish eighth, the same place she held after the first run. Teammate Kaylin Richardson placed a provisional 23rd.
Stiegler was first when she finished her final run with a total time of 1:44.98, but that lasted just one racer as the top seven also bettered their times. Richardson, competing in her first worlds, was clocked in 1:47.53. They were the only two U.S. skiers to compete after Lindsey Kildow withdrew because of a knee injury suffered Thursday in training.
The previous best result by a Czech at the worlds was Zahrobska's bronze medal in the slalom in 2005. Nobody from the Czech Republic or its predecessor Czechoslovakia has ever won an Olympic title.
“It’s very big, not only for me but for my whole team, especially for my family because in the beginning it was very difficult for us,” Zahrobska said.
Schild, who has won five of the six slalom races on the World Cup circuit this season, climbed from third after the opening leg into second place with a time of 1:44.02.
“It was a dream to win gold today. I think I’m lucky for second,” said Schild, who hurt her hip in training on Thursday. “It was not my best skiing today, but it was the best I had to give today.”
Schild said she thought she was good in the upper part, but had two mistakes in the middle section.
“I tried to fight back in the lower pert. But eleven-hundredths, it’s OK,” she said.
Paerson made a slight mistake within sight of the finish.
“I had a lot of mistakes, but I ended up taking a medal and I’m really, really happy,” Paerson said.
“After the combined, I didn’t feel so comfortable on the slalom skis. But yesterday in training I got a little faster on my feet and today [Friday] I was having a really bad morning. I’m still a little bit sick from last couple of days, but I know coming into just before the race I was in better shape.”
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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