Greek racer AJ Ginnis has finished runner-up to gold medallist Henrik Kristoffersen in the men’s slalom at the Alpine skiing world championships to earn his country its first medal at a worlds in any Olympic sport on snow or ice.
Ginnis was second after the opening run and held on to his position as he finished 0.20 seconds behind Norway’s Kristoffersen in the final race of the worlds at the French resort of Courchevel on Sunday.
Alex Vinatzer was 0.38 behind to take the bronze and earn the Italian men their first medal at these worlds.
“It’s just a dream, the last two weeks. History for Greece, best moment in my career,” Ginnis, who had previously competed for the US as a junior, said.
“I can’t believe it. I don’t know what happened. During the run I thought it was not enough and I just gave everything in the last gates.”
Ginnis already became the first skier from Greece on a World Cup podium when he finished second in the last slalom before the worlds.
Kristoffersen posted the fastest-second run time as he improved from 16th position.
“I didn’t believe it was enough. It was a clean run from the middle part, up there I thought it was too many mistakes and not fast enough,” the Norwegian said.
It’s Kristoffersen’s second world title after winning gold in the giant slalom four years ago.
“I have won 23 World Cup (slalom) races, I was about 50 times on the podium, but this is my first gold medal. Maybe it’s the right time.”
First-run leader Manuel Feller of Austria dropped to seventh.
Feller was chasing his country’s first gold medal of the championships, two years before Saalbach-Hinterglemm will host the next worlds.
Austria led the medal table with five golds two years ago and had won at least one event at every worlds since 1987.
Source: AAP
