Friday 47 Sports Friday, February 16, 2018 ‘Super-cool’ Shiffrin wins Olympic giant slalom gold Dream start in her quest to win multiple gold PYEONGCHANG: American Mikaela Shiffrin ule earlier this week. got off to a dream start in her quest to win multi- Shiffrin quickly clawed back the two tenths of ple gold at the Pyeongchang Olympics by storm- a second Moelgg gained on her after the first run ing to victory in the giant slalom yesterday. with an aggressive ski and powered over the line The 22-year-old, who won slalom gold in Sochi in 1min 9.20sec for a combined time of 2:20.02. four years ago, produced an explosive second run Mowinckel, fourth after the morning run, came to beat Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel to the title through to take silver as Brignone kept her first-run by 0.39 seconds as Italian Federica Brignone took position to claim bronze. Tessa Worley, the French bronze. Shiffrin sank to her knees and sobbed world champion expected to push Shiffrin hard for tears of joy before hugging her coaches as Italy’s the title, recovered from a disastrous first run that Manuela Moelgg, running last of the title con- left her with no chance for gold to clock 1:09.00, tenders, failed to repro- but it was only enough to duce the form that saw lift her to seventh. her pip the favourite in Shiffrin sank to Shiffrin, who has the morning. racked up 41 World Cup “I don’t know how to her knees wins, was supposed to explain it. It’s crazy. and sobbed have completed her best There’s so much emo- two disciplines-the slalom tion,” Shiffrin said. “To tears of joy and giant slalom-earlier come to the Olympics this week. But gusting after some tough races winds that forced the on the World Cup cir- postponements of the cuit and to charge like that-I risked it on the sec- alpine skiing and the resulting delays could yet ond run-it’s super-cool.” complicate her quest to medal in potentially five It was a clutch win for Shiffrin after all the events. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg, who hype in the build-up to the Games surrounding captured gold in Vancouver and bronze in Sochi, (L-R) Norway’s silver medallist Ragnhild Mowinckel, USA’s gold medallist Mikaela Shiffrin and Italy’s her assault on at least four of the women’s alpine just missed out on a medal as she produced a bronze medallist Federica Brignone pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women’s skiing’s disciplines. It was also a long time coming quick 1:09.15 that pushed her to fourth after alpine skiing giant slalom at the Pyeongchang Medals Plaza during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter after poor weather caused havoc with the sched- being only eighth fastest in the morning. — AFP Olympic Games in Pyeongchang on February 1. — AFP of goals early. Five-times No NHLers, no “I think it let everybody see on our team where we are at and what we can do. We’ve still got lots of tough hockey ahead of us.” Canada Olympian Lassila interest as would usually be the main attraction packing the largest venue but on Thursday the gold medal- lists were relegated to the smaller arena used bows out in Canada roll to primarily for women’s hockey while the host South Koreans took on the Czech Republic disappointment easy win across town at the main arena. Large swathes of empty seats and just 2,802 spectators added up to a flat atmosphere inside the arena that a day PYEONGCHANG: Australian Lydia Lassila took GANGNEUNG: Canada opened their defence earlier had been rattling with excitement for a a huge breath, looked down at her coach and of their Olympic men’s ice hockey gold medal women’s hockey game between a united Korean then went for it, the final jump of an illustrious with a workmanlike 5-1 win over Switzerland team and Japan.— Reuters career that spanned five Olympic Games. yesterday in a muted contest that failed to fill the It was far from the perfect ending, however, Kwandong Hockey Centre. as she crumpled on her landing during qualifica- What would have been one of the hottest tion for the final of the women’s aerials yesterday, tickets at any of the five previous Olympics fea- failing to make it through. The 36-year-old, an Lydia Lassila turing a Canadian team loaded with National Matches on TV Olympic champion in Vancouver eight years ago Hockey League stars playing in their tournament and a bronze medallist in Sochi four years later, opener was treated with disinterest as the (Local Timings) had already decided to bow out after spanned over 17 years. “I’m in one piece and world’s best players sat these Games out. we’ve got two Australians in the final, I’ve got Pyeongchang, no matter the result. With the NHL deciding to end its Olympic in- SPANISH LEAGUE two Olympic medals. On reflection it’s not so Speaking to reporters after her final jump, she volvement Canada was forced to assemble a Girona v Leganes 23:00 bad,” she said. confirmed her retirement. “I am going to retire, roster of mostly anonymous journeymen and beIN SPORTS HD 3 which I’m kind of looking forward to as well,” she “You’ve got to let it go and what’s done is minor leaguers, the absence of marquee names done. I’m sad to not be in the finals and I’m sure said. “I’ve had a great career. It hasn’t been easy. having a bigger impact on attendance than on GERMAN BUNDESLIGA a lot of competitors are happy that I’m not in the “I have loved every minute and whilst it’s hor- the ice as Canada rolled to a confidence-boost- Hertha Berlin v FSV Mainz22:30 finals. “But you win some and you lose some and rible now and I’ll probably go home and cry for ing win. beIN SPORTS HD 5 a few hours in disappointment, I’m grateful for unfortunately today was not my day.” “You didn’t really know what to expect it’s Lassila added that aerials had given her so my health, the opportunity, for what this sport been a long process we knew the Swiss would FRENCH LEAGUE much in her life and she was always thankful to taught me.” have a good and that they would play hard,” Monaco v Dijon 22:45 the sport. “It’s stripped me down to my core,” Lassila finished a painful 14th in qualifying, Canada coach Willie Desjardins told reporters. beIN SPORTS HD 6 but said she can now see through the disap- she said. “I know who I am and I’m really grateful “It was good for us to get out and get a couple pointment to reflect on an incredible career that for that opportunity. Peace out.” — Reuters.