Janica Kostelic of Croatia clears a pole on her way to win the women's Alpine Ski World Cup slalom race in Ofterschwang, southern Germany, February 5, 2006. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
. world ski news : Kostelic wins final race before Olympics - 06 February 2006 - 12:28
Ladies World Cup Slalom in Ofterschwang
OFTERSCHWANG, Germany (Reuters) - Triple Olympic champion Janica Kostelic battled through a fever and removed any doubts about her form by winning a women's slalom on Sunday, the final World Cup race before the Turin Games.
Janica Kostelic of Croatia clears a pole on her way to win the women's Alpine Ski World Cup slalom race in Ofterschwang, southern Germany, February 5, 2006. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
The Croatian had not even qualified for the second leg of a giant slalom on Saturday after a disastrous first leg, but she recovered to win Sunday's slalom with a superb second run.
With her victory, Kostelic became only the second woman after Petra Kronberger of Austria in 1991 to win a World Cup "grand slam" -- victories in all five disciplines in one season: downhill, super-g, giant slalom, slalom and combined.
Anja Paerson of Sweden clears a pole on her way to clock the fastest time in the first run of the women's Alpine Ski World Cup slalom race in Ofterschwang, southern Germany February 5, 2006. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
Her great rival Anja Paerson of Sweden, who won the giant slalom on Saturday in a tie with Spain's Maria Jose Rienda Contreras, had led after the first leg but straddled a pole midway through the second on the Ofterschwang Horn piste.
Kostelic finished a huge 1.33 seconds ahead of a trio of Austrians in one minute 42.22 seconds. Kathrin Zettel was second, Marlies Schild third in 1:43.67 and Michaela Kirchgasser fourth in 1:43.67.
"The last two days I've been sick," said Kostelic. "I didn't feel well. This was the last race before the Olympics and I wanted to do something good."
"I'm still feeling pretty weak," said Kostelic before dashing to catch a plane home to Croatia.
"I don't have much power. Now we have some time off before the Olympics. That's good. I'm going home."
Kostelic, known as a skier for big occasions like the Olympics, extended her lead in the World Cup overall standings as well as in the slalom with Sunday's victory.
Resi Stiegler of the US wears pink devil's ears attached to her helmet after taking the 13th place in the women's Alpine Ski World Cup slalom race in Ofterschwang, southern Germany February 5, 2006. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic
OVERALL LEAD
"I'm not into 'signals'," Kostelic said when asked about her Olympic chances. "It's just a race. Just like every other one. You have some good days and some bad days."
The Winter Games open in Turin on February 10.
Kostelic was a close third behind Paerson and Zettel after the morning run in cloudy conditions.
Her dazzling second run in the sunshine of the afternoon was 1.45 seconds faster than the previous best on the leg and left her rivals as well as the big Ofterschwang crowd of 10,000 gasping in disbelief.
"I saw Janica's time and what a huge gap she opened up just before I went down," said Zettel, the penultimate racer before Paerson. "Janica is known for her ability to pull off an insane run like that. I'm quite happy to get second place."
Schild, who remained second in the slalom World Cup standings behind Kostelic, said: "Whether she is really sick or not I don't know. In any event, she skied superbly."
Sun Feb 5, 2006 11:56 AM ET
By Erik Kirschbaum
(Additional reporting by Manuele Lang)