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Sara Hector of Sweden crowned a remarkable career turnaround by winning gold in the women’s giant slalom at the Beijing Olympics on Monday, her first solo triumph at a major tournament.
Hector, 29, finished two runs down The Ice River at the Yanqing Alpine Skiing Center in an unofficial combined timing of 1 minute, 55.69 seconds. She was the fastest down the hill in the first run, and her eighth-fastest second leg was enough to keep her in the lead.
Federica Brignone of Italy finished 0.28 seconds slower over the two legs to add a silver medal to her bronze medal in the GS at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, trailing winner Mikaela Shiffrin, who crashed during Monday’s initial run and was eliminated.
Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland finished third, 0.72 seconds behind Hector, and now has another bronze medal to add to the one she won in the downhill at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
When Hector crossed the finish line, she hoisted her ski poles and shouted in delight before being welcomed by Brignone and Gut-Behrami.
Hector won her maiden World Cup race in December 2014, and she had to wait seven years to obtain No. 2 this December. And then, as if she’d discovered the key to success, she tacked on Nos. 3 and 4 in January. Each was competing in a gigantic slalom.
Now, in February, Hector has achieved her most significant victory yet.
Her track record in the major Alpine skiing competitions? Hector has never finished higher than a tenth place in four events in two prior trips to the Olympics. And her highest finish in ten individual races throughout six world championship appearances was ninth (although she did share in three-team event medals at worlds).
She sought to explain her current race, which has left her atop the World Cup giant slalom standings headed to Beijing, after winning two weeks ago in San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy.
She stated that she is “She was easily wound up, which caused her troubles. But, as Hector stated at the time, she is now able to “I actually feel peaceful,” she says, and this allows her to concentrate better.
