MARCEL HIRSCHER MASTERED the jitters that have afflicted Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn when he powered to his second Pyeongchang Winter Olympics title on Sunday, becoming the event’s most successful skier so far.
While America’s Shiffrin and Vonn look to recover from defeats, Hirscher hit his groove in the men’s giant slalom, winning by an impressive 1.27 seconds — five days after his debut Olympic victory in the combined.
Norway’s Oystein Braaten proved untouchable in the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle as the 16-day Games hit the halfway point, with medals in biathlon, aerials and speed skating still to come on Sunday. Norway also won the 4x10km men’s cross country relay to reach nine gold medals and draw level with Germany at the top of medals table.
It has been a long wait for Games gold for Hirscher, who is the dominant figure of World Cup racing but whose best previous Olympic result was slalom silver in 2014.
However, the Austrian has flourished in South Korea. He said his years of success on the World Cup circuit proved vital as he beat Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen and France’s Alexis Pinturault into second and third place.
“After the first run I thought to myself that the confidence is here and speed is here and I can win the race. There’s always a mind game between the first and second runs, but the years of experience helped me,” the 28-year-old Hirscher said. His coach Michael Pircher said simply: “Right now he’s the best.”
While Hirscher savoured his second victory, Shiffrin was processing her defeat in the women’s slalom, her pet event, after vomiting with nerves at the start gate.
“It’s not necessarily the medallists who get the most out of the Olympics,” the American wrote in a soul-searching statement posted on social media. “It’s those who are willing to strip down to nothing and bare their soul for their love of the game. That is so much greater than Gold, Silver, or Bronze.”
Vonn, who finished a disappointing sixth in Saturday’s super-G, also said she was “hurt” by accusations online that she was anti-American, following her criticism of US President Donald Trump.
“That’s so far from the truth. I’m the most American person you will ever find,” said Vonn, who was fastest in official training for Wednesday’s women’s downhill.
A torrid Games for Russia, banned over doping but with 168 athletes competing as neutrals, improved as they won their third Pyeongchang silver, in the cross-country relay. They were denied gold by the masterful Norwegian skiers, who seized the lead through Simen Hegstad Krueger in the third leg before Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo sealed victory.
The man can do no wrong……
Except for getting a team relegated
Idiotic comment. Worked wonders for years keeping Wigan in the Premiership on a shoestring budget.
I was at the Wigan QPR game last season and the few Wigan fans that were there had nothing but praise for the job he was doing for them. One of the best young managers in the game.
Martinez has struck me as a class act since I first became familiar with him at Wigan. Today’s speech was understated and respectful yet laden with empathy and sincerity. Brilliant stuff … Fair play to him.
Has always come across as a pure gent. Never heard anyone give out about or say a bad word about him.
Kenwright, Martinez and Everton in General have carried themselves exceptionally in all this. Such a welcome change from the vile bitterness all to common in football rivalry.
Rivals for a day, friends for life…. the way it should always be….
Great speech….great team… great city…
ETID ..rip the 96 and hopefully peace of mind to there family…
That’s classy, would expect nothing less of him.
Great guy!
Sky said after the speech that they distanced themselves from some of his comments! Unbelievable even for a sky! Worries about libelling the police.
I happened to see that as well – Kay Burley made that remark. I wouldn’t take much notice or get bothered by any utterance/observation from her mouth.
It wasn’t that they were distancing themselves from what Roberto said, more that they were waiting to see if there were any remarks made that could be considered as contempt of court. The new inquests are covered by the Contempt of Court act, and so people have to make sure that nothing is said that could prejudice the proceedings. Roberto made a heartfelt, beautiful speech today, and he’s done wonders over at Goodison this season.
Didn’t know that. Thanks
Top class.