Ski world: the Swiss Camille Rast Imperial in slalom, no podium for Shiffrin

Entering a new dimension this winter, the Swiss Camille Rast became on Saturday champion of the world of slalom in Saalbach in Austria, where the « reine » Ski Mikaela Shiffrin finished in fifth place.

Already at the head at the end of the first round, which had never happened to him on the world circuit, Camille Rast was not disturbed by the final wall passed in the shade and kept her advance to win In front of another Swiss, Wendy Holdener (+46 hundredths).

The Austrian Katharina Linksberger completes the podium (+1 sec 32) in front of numerous local spectators in the stands but also on the neighboring track, which swarmed people on this first Saturday of school holidays.

With his victory, the first for Switzerland in slalom since the coronation of Vreni Schneider in 1991-Defered in Saalbach–, Camille Rast won among the great in the discipline.

While she had never climbed a World Cup podium at the start of the season, Rast has been following successes since November, with three podiums including two slalom victories, a discipline where she never left the top 5 of winter.

“It’s crazy, I don’t realize yet. I had already been world champion with juniors, but it is among the big ones. This is the real title “Jubileus the 25 -year -old skier, who has a minions (the little yellow characters of “Me, ugly and bad”) printed on his helmet.

Rast the Rockett

The new world champion in the discipline, from Vetroz and also a former high -level mountain biker, nevertheless returns from afar.

In 2017, after a first top-10 in the World Cup, Rast contracts mononucleosis and then saw a big depression.

Back on the circuit, she fell heavily during the Swiss championships in March 2019 and breaks the anterior cross ligament of the right knee. She will take time to return to the high level until this first podium in the World Cup in November in Gurgl, before her first victory eight days later in Killington.

After having completely dominated the second round, Wendy Holdener, 31, is still close to victory, she who displays 54 podiums in the World Cup for only seven victories, and six individual world medals for two titles (in combination in 2017 and 2019).

“I knew that after my first round and my fourth time, I needed a big second round for a good result and it is that I did”reacted Holdener. “Camille (rast) has ski -fired, I’m happy for her. »»

With two new podiums on Saturday, Switzerland confirms its total domination over world skiing with 12 medals, four of which are in gold (super-g, descent, men’s combination, women’s slalom).

Fifth Shiffrin

Still not completely handed over to a big injury to the abdomen that occurred during a fall in November, the queen of ski Mikaela Shiffrin took fifth place on Saturday, for her sole individual race in the Worlds.

“I did not realize that I was so close to the podium but I would say that the day took place as I had anticipated”said the American, who had stressed before the race did not target a medal, she who won over the last six world in slalom (including four titles).

The best skier in the world, 99 victories on the circuit, still leaves Saalbach with the gold of the team handset landed with his partner Breezy Johnson, world champion in the descent.

On the French side, Marion Chevrier took a beautiful 10th place, her best result on the world scene, and Marie Lamure finished 12th.

Author of a superb second round (5th time), Chevrier remained a little while installed in the « hot seat » Reserved for the provisional leader.

“I didn’t believe it too much. It’s amazing, it’s too good “reacted the Plagne skier, three times victorious this winter in the European Cup and which had already made a good round of slalom during the team handset (2nd time).

The world championships end on Sunday with the male slalom.