U.S. shines at World Ski Championships

By USSA

SCHLADMING, Austria — Teen Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) skied a powerful, aggressive second run to come from behind Saturday to win gold in slalom at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Schladming.

Third after the first run, Shiffrin overcame a 0.18 lead by Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter who took bronze. Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser took silver.

Mikaela Shiffrin

It was the first World Championship medal of their careers for each of the medalists.

Shiffrin became the third youngest woman to ever win a slalom World Championship and youngest American to win any title since 17 year old Diann Roffe won gold in giant slalom in 1985.

It was the fifth medal for the United States and fourth gold. Ted Ligety (Park City) won in super G, super combined and giant slalom. Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley) won in giant slalom.

A sold out stadium of over 30,000 was on hand in Schladming for the final weekend of the Championships.