Ledecka aims for a double-double in ski-snowboard in women’s super-G

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Stories abound in what is shaping up to be an intriguing Olympic super-G as the women make their first appearance on “The Rock.”

Will Czech Ester Ledecka stun the snowsports world once again as she continues a historic, unprecedented and supernatural Olympic performance in ski-snowboard double-double gold? Can Mikaela Shiffrin overcome her demons and her big disappointment, after reflecting after her first two tech races? And will the Italians continue to dominate the season in the speed test, despite the absence of Sofia Goggia, who is absent, still recovering?

So many fascinating questions will be asked as 44 riders attempt to tackle the 1.98 kilometer Chinese super-G course, starting at 11 a.m. local time on Friday morning.

“Miracle on the snow? »

Just three days after convincingly claiming her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in snowboarding’s parallel giant slalom, 26-year-old Ledecka is striving to accomplish the same in the opening women’s sprint event of the Beijing 2022 schedule.

Four years ago, in an absolute shock at PyeongChang 2018, Ledecka came back from the peloton, bib number 27, and stole what seemed like a sure win from Austria’s Anna Fenninger, leaving the world of skiing and sport, and even Ester herself, in complete disbelief. Will the versatile Czech be able to reproduce the feat, holder of bib number 2, now clearly in the spotlight?

Ledecka reacts to his shock victory at the PyeongChang Olympics four years ago.

Her recent performance in the downhill World Cup in Cortina – where she notched her first podium of the season by finishing third in the downhill, 0.26 seconds off the winning pace of Sofia Goggia – demonstrated her solid form and would suggest that this ‘is possible. His best super-G result, in three races this season, is eighth, also in Cortina.

In Cortina, Ski racing media asked if she still focuses on hard loading in the Olympic snowboard and ski events.

“Of course, it’s a great opportunity because it’s the only place where I don’t have to travel so much, so it’s perfect,” joked Ledecka, about the relatively close proximity between the Chinese National Center Alpine Skiing, where ski races are contested, and the northern cluster of Zhangjiakou, where she won her gold medal in snowboarding earlier in these Games.

The two-sport athlete from the Czech Republic loves to joke around on the running track, but he’s obviously very serious when he’s there.

Ester Ledecka (CZE). Photo: GEPA Images

Committed to a double gold medal in Beijing, with little time to celebrate her victory in snowboarding, the Czech Republic star is aiming for even more Olympic glory in the super-G. She spoke briefly to the media after her snowboard victory at Genting Snow Park.

“I’m a very competitive person, so I just want to get better and better and always improve, but the base is always to have fun,” Ledekca said.

Ledecka is known for her fun demeanor, eccentricity, and unpredictability with the media. After her super-G gold medal in PyeongChang, she did not remove her goggles while speaking to the media, informing that she had not put on makeup, as she did not expect to do press conferences broadcast around the world after the upset victory.

Another triumph over the snow will undoubtedly amuse all winter sports enthusiasts, especially the whole of the Czech Republic – a nation that will be on the edge of its seat at 4am in Europe. If Ester manages to pull through, again, the famous Czech Pilsner Urquells will surely flow before breakfast.

shiffrin try again

Shiffrin is aiming to ‘reset’ as she passed on to the media earlier this week following her DNF slalom and rundown. The three-time Olympic medalist, after soul-searching and a productive training session, will compete in the super-G on Friday. It will be his third start of what could still be a six-race trip to China.

“It’s hard to accept what happened, but she has to get through it. And one of the best ways to do that is to keep looking to the future. She participates in several events here, which is great for her,” said US Alpine Sports Head Coach Paul Kristofic. says AP. “You have to look at what’s in front of you and try to put what’s behind you to rest, no matter how hard that is.”

Kristofic said Shiffrin’s training on Thursday “went well”.

Shiffrin will enter the starting grid with several world championship super-G successes under his belt. The Colorado runner won gold at the 2019 world championships in Are, Sweden, and followed it up with another medal last season at the 2021 championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where she won bronze, just 0. 47 from winner Lara Gut-Behrami. Shiffrin has four career super-G World Cup wins and seven podium finishes in 20 career races. Shiffrin starts at No. 11.

Those damn Italians

Led by Federica Brignone, the Italians are 1-2-3 in the current World Cup standings with teammate Elena Curtoni trailing her by 103 points in second and Goggia in third 145 behind. Goggia, however, opted out of the super-G start, still recovering from knee injuries sustained in a bad crash during the January 23 Cortina super-G.

Brignone has been on fire lately, now working full-time with his brother and coach Davide, while mostly training independently of the Italian team.

Federica Brignone (ITA). Photo: GEPA

The 31-year-old former World Cup champion has three super-G wins this season, including the last race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on January 30. Further victories came at Zauchensee and St. Moritz in December. Brignone is riding the momentum of a silver medal in the giant slalom just four days ago, competing in her fourth Olympic Games.

Curtoni won Cortina’s recent super-G, his first career World Cup victory, after more than a decade on tour. At 31, she participated in her first Olympic Games.

Goggia, who has been racing against the clock since sustaining a knee injury in Cortina last month, made the decision to skip the event after training on the unfamiliar mountain on Thursday.

The 2018 Italian downhill Olympic champion has returned to the Olympic Village where medical staff will continue to monitor her condition, according to a statement from the Italian Ski Federation.

The 29-year-old Italian phenom has called off a press conference and it’s unclear whether she can defend her downhill title on Tuesday, with mandatory training starting on Saturday.

No more suitors

Of course, one can never look past the timeless Swiss wonder, Lara Gut-Behrami. The Swiss star enters the race as 2021 world champion; however, a reigning world champion has never won women’s Olympic super-G gold. Gut-Behrami is fifth in the super-G standings this season.

Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI). Photo: GEPA

Never rely on Austrians in Olympic sprint races under pressure. The mighty Austrian side have won four women’s super-G titles since the event was introduced in 1988, more than any other nation. Italy and the United States have two wins each, and Ledecka’s victory has one for the Czech Republic.

US Ski Team successes and starters

US Olympic super-G gold medals were won by Diane Roffe at Lillehammer 1994 and Picabo Street at Nagano 1998.

Besides Shiffrin, the American starters include Isabella Wright (bib 21), Alix Wilkinson (bib 28) and Keely Cashman (bib 30). The three teammates average just 23.6 years old and are all making their Olympic debuts.

Follow Brian on Twitter – @Brian_Pinelli

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