YANQING, Beijing, February 7 (Xinhua) – Sara Hector won Sweden’s first gold in 30 years in alpine skiing ladies’ giant slalom in Beijing 2022 this Monday.
Hector, the current leader in the competition in the World Cup standings, finished first with 57.56 seconds in the first race, where the defending champion Mikaela Shiffrin from the USA fell and was disqualified.
The 29-year-old Swede came in eighth place in his second run with 58.13 seconds to lead with a total of one minute and 55.69 seconds.
Italy’s Federica Brignone took silver 0.28 seconds behind, and Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami took bronze 0.72 seconds behind the leader.
“I really tried to push it and give everything I have. It’s just amazing,” said Hector, adding that it was a long day to absorb after two challenging runs.
Before the first run, the Swedish skier was so nervous that she vomited before leaving. Her coach Per Jonsson thought it was understandable before a big event like the Olympics.
“Everyone is nervous these days. It’s the day when you want to do everything right,” said Jonsson. “She did it and it’s amazing.”
Chinese skiers Kong Fanying and Ni Yueming placed 40th and 44th, respectively, the best performances China has had since Vancouver 2010.
“I burned to the finish,” Kong said. “It was a strenuous race, because the surface was cut by skiers before me,” said the two-time Olympian, adding that she was glad she did her best in front of local spectators.
Source: sn.dk