Czech skier Ester Ledecka wins first World Cup after unsuccessful Beijing Olympics stint
Follow Us
Ester Ledecka
Czech skier Ester Ledecka left past her Olympic disappointment on Saturday by winning the first women’s World Cup downhill after the 2022 Beijing Games.
Ledecka, who had an attacking run down the Mont Lachaux course in Switzerland, earned her third career win and second in downhill. Notably, this earmarked her victory coming more than two years after her maiden triumph in Lake Louise, Alberta.
“It was a really nice run. I did a lot of things better than in training,” she said during an interview with ESPN.
She added: “I had a bit of health troubles last week, so it was difficult to get back to full strength. Those two trainings were very difficult for me. Those were the worst training sessions of my career. But today I felt much better. The body was ready for the race.”
“Only two days after snowboard race to prepare for super-G”
The Prague born snowboarder beat Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel by 0.21 seconds. It was the latter’s eighth career podium but first in downhill.
“There were only two days after the snowboard race to prepare for the super-G. So after all, I think we did good work there,” said Ledecka, who won the snowboarding parallel giant slalom race again in Beijing.
Sofia Goggia, who returned just in time while still recovering from injury to take Olympic silver, remained in the lead of the discipline standings with 422 points, 65 ahead of Suter.
“Today is a day that teaches me how to lose,” the Italian Olympic champion from 2018 said. “It was since December 2020 that I had been unbeaten in the World Cup in the races in which I crossed the finish line, and I knew this day would have to come.”
Also Read | “That was a bit of a roller coaster” – Silver-medalist Jessie Diggins reflects on Beijing Olympics triumph
Stay Updated!
Sachin Arora
(2527 Articles Published)