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Michelle Gisin earns first victory of season

Dec 29, 2020·Alpine Skiing
SEMMERING, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 29: Michelle Gisin of Switzerland takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Slalom on December 29, 2020 in Semmering, Austria. (Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom)

Eight years ago, Michelle Gisin made her slalom World Cup debut in Semmering (AUT). Today she was the winner.

Gisin became the first Swiss woman to earn a slalom World Cup victory in 19 years after finishing ahead of Katharina Liensberger (AUT) by 0.11 seconds.

It was a razor-thin margin heading into the second run. American Mikaela Shiffrin was the one to beat after the first run with a minimal 0.02 lead over Gisin, but in the end Shiffrin ad to settle for third place after both Gisin and Lienberger had a better showing under the lights in Semmering.

The win bumped Gisin up into second place in the overall World Cup standings in the still-young season. The current leader Petra Vlhova (SVK) finished just out of podium range in fourth place.

It was a calm day today in the evening race, a far cry from yesterday’s wind storm that forced the cancellation of the giant slalom.

The women’s tour moves onto Zagreb after the New Year for more slalom action.