ALPINE SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. Schladming, Austria - The ladies’ Downhill has a new surprise winner! Marion Rolland from France took gold in a sensational race on 10th February. A mere 0.16 seconds back Italy’s Nadia Fanchini clinched silver while Germany’s Super Combined champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch raced to bronze (+0.70).

Marion Rolland #1, Nadia Fanchini #2 and Maria Höfl-Riesch #3! Congratulations! Photo: Milka

The action-packed race was filled with pure excitement. With bib number 2 Fanchini, bronze medallist from the World Championships Downhill competition in Val d’Isere (FRA) in 2009, beat all top favourites and remained in the lead until Marion Rolland, with bib number 22 pushed her off the first place.

The 30-year-old French skiing talent has never been victorious in any FIS World Cup competitions so far but made it the third medal for France during these World Champs. After the race, she stood in the finish area crying. “Since I was a kid, I wanted to become a World Champion. This is like a dream to me! If you believe in yourself and your dreams, you will reach them one day. It was absolutely breath-taking today”, she stated in a TV interview after the race.

Congratulations Marion Rolland! The french skier wins the gold medal in the ladies' downhill. Nadia Fanchini (Italy) wins silver. Supercombined Worldchampion Maria Höfl-Riesch (Germany) achieves the third place! Photo FIS Alpine Ski-WM 2013 SCHLADMING

Next to Rolland, Nadia Fanchini was another sensation of the day: “I clinched a medal and can’t believe it! After a bad crash in Kitzbuehel in 2010, it was only my fourth Downhill competition since my comeback”, the 26-year-old highlighted.

While medalling is almost a complete new experience for these two girls, Hoefl-Riesch is finding back to her old shape: “In your career, there are always ups and downs. Having these “ups” and moments of joy during World Championships is extremely special. Gold in Super Combined and bronze in Downhill is great!”, she happily said after the race.

For super star and current overall World Cup leader Tina Maze, the Downhill event ended with 7th place. Switzerland’s Nadja Kamer and the US girls Julia Mancuso and Stacey Cook showcased some faster action by finishing 4th to 6th.

While the World Championships have seen a multitude of nations and surprise athletes on the podium, the Austrian team is still waiting for further medals. So far, only Nicole Hosp made it to bronze in the ladies’ Super Combined.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere in Schladming remains great with thousands of spectators attending the races each day.The ladies' Downhill event has seen 16,500 excited fans cheering for their favourite athletes in nearly brilliant weather conditions.

FISalpine.com
Sunday 10 February 2013