SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA, 19:40 11.02.2005, AP, Italy - Croatia's Janica Kostelic left a sick bed to win the slalom Friday, the first woman in 23 years to sweep three ski titles at a world championships.
Kostelic, who skipped the giant slalom this week because of a high fever and cough, was third after the opening leg but delivered an amazing second run for the victory. She captured the downhill and combined last week.
The previous woman to win three gold medals at the worlds was Switzerland's Erika Hess (slalom, giant slalom, combined) in Schladming, Austria, in 1982.
Kostelic had a combined time of 1 minute, 47.98 seconds. Finland's Tanja Poutiainen, the leader after the opening leg, placed second in 1:48.16 for her second medal of the worlds following a silver in the giant slalom. Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic won the bronze in 1:48.65.
Sweden's Anja Paerson, who was second-fastest in the opening leg, skied off course during her second trip down the slope.
By ERICA BULMAN, AP Sports Writer
FIS World Ski Championships |
Santa Caterina (ITA) 11-02-2005 |
Results Slalom Women 2nd run |
|
Rank |
Bib |
Name |
Nation |
Total Time |
Total Diff. |
Time 1st run |
Diff. 1st run |
Rank 1st run |
Time 2nd run |
Diff. 2nd run |
Rank 2nd run |
1 |
( 2) |
KOSTELIC J. |
CRO |
1:47.98 |
0.00 |
51.59 |
+ 0.40 |
3 |
56.39 |
+ 0.30 |
4 |
2 |
( 7) |
POUTIAINEN T. |
FIN |
1:48.16 |
+ 0.18 |
51.19 |
0.00 |
1 |
56.97 |
+ 0.88 |
8 |
3 |
( 10) |
ZAHROBSKA S. |
CZE |
1:48.65 |
+ 0.67 |
51.90 |
+ 0.71 |
4 |
56.75 |
+ 0.66 |
6 |
|