Yanqing, China Feb 17 (BUS): Austrian Kristen Scherr took center stage after the women’s combined regression match on Thursday, but American favorite Mikaela Schiffrin was close at hand as she searched for her first medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Shire completed the downhill in 1:32.42, which puts her ahead of Czech Ester Ledecka, who is looking for another Olympic double after winning gold again in the giant parallel slalom on ice, Reuters reported.
Shiffrin was fifth fastest in the sprint, 0.56 off the lead, but the American would fantasize about her chances of making up for that time in her favorite slalom.
The American, the combined world champion and silver medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics, said she used Italian downhill skis Sofia Goggia but now admitted she has to overcome some mental hurdles in the slalom.
Shiffrin entered the Games as the leading technical skater in recent years, but largely failed to finish her first rounds in both the slalom and giant slalom, and surprisingly remained without a medal in Beijing.
“It’s nice to know I’ve got some practice and I definitely have a lot of speed in the slalom but I also have a little bit of, I don’t know, I have to beat the picture I’m going to skate at Gate Five,” she said, referring to the section that bothered her at both her exits.
“I just try to stay cool because I think I was doing really well that morning. Stay calm and have a good run in the slalom.
“I’m really excited to have another chance to race on the rest of the technology track,” she said. “That would be great.”
The American then finished ninth in the Super G and 18th in the downhill but is part of an exciting group of female skaters who are comfortable in both technical and speed events.
Cher is more at home in sprints but obviously had this joint in mind and said she did several slalom training days during the games.
“The slalom makes me more nervous because I’m doing it a lot less downhill but I’m excited (for round two), we’ll see,” she said.
Defending Co-Olympic champion Michelle Jessen of Switzerland was second only to Shire’s time.
Austrian Ramona Seppenhofer was 0.14 points behind the lead, while Frenchman Romain Miradoli was fourth, 0.53 behind Shire.