Lara Gut-Behrami is the best skier of the season. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Large crystal ball: Lara Gut-Behrami in seventh heaven

The Swiss ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami won the overall World Cup early. Federica Brignone was also happy with her on Sunday.

March 17, 2024

From: dpa/det

Tenth place in the giant slalom in Saalbach-Hinterglemm on Sunday was enough for the 32-year-old Gut-Behrami to mathematically secure the big crystal ball. In addition, the experienced athlete also won the discipline ranking in the giant slalom - in downhill and super-G, Gut-Behrami can even put together a historic four-pack of balls next weekend.

The last remaining rival in the battle for the ratings was Federica Brignone in Austria. She won the giant slalom ahead of Alice Robinson from New Zealand (+1,36 seconds) and Thea Louise Stjernesund from Norway (+1,67). In the end, it wasn't enough for the Italian to intercept Gut-Behrami - who drove without taking any great risks and thus scored the necessary points.

Brignone celebrates her victory. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Given the deficit in the overall and discipline World Cup, the Italian had hardly expected any chance of winning the coup before the season finale.

Lara Gut-Behrami's second prank

Meanwhile, Gut-Behrami crowned a strong season with her second overall World Cup after 2016. The Swiss consistently scored points in four disciplines and also benefited from the injury absence of top favorite Mikaela Shiffrin in recent weeks. The American missed several races in which Gut-Behrami overtook her in the overall standings.

Shiffrin recently got fit again and promptly won the slaloms in Are last week and in Saalbach on Saturday. She then skipped the giant slalom a day later and will not take part in the final two speed races next weekend.