BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin defended her slalom title at the world championships Saturday with a strong burst near the end of a choppy course.
Shiffrin finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 38.48 seconds, edging Frida Hansdotter of Sweden by 0.34 seconds. Sarka Strachova of the Czech Republic earned bronze.
The results are unofficial as lower-tier racers still compete.
With Lindsey Vonn done for these championships, the 19-year-old Shiffrin, who’s from nearby Eagle-Vail, slipped into the role of hometown favorite and didn’t disappoint.
Leading after the first run, Shiffrin fell behind in her final pass, only to make up ground on the last few gates in softer snow. She didn’t celebrate after finishing, almost in disbelief as the crowd cheered. It’s the second gold medal for the Americans at these championships.
Shiffrin won the slalom world title two years ago. She also captured gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Comment count on this article reflects comments made on Breitbart.com and Facebook. Visit Breitbart's Facebook Page.