Alpine skiing FIS World Cup 2023/24: Jasmine Flury speeds to maiden downhill title
Reigning world champion Flury claimed her first World Cup downhill title and only her third podium finish. The Swiss speedster shared the podium with compatriot Joana Haehlen in second place with Cornelia Huetter taking third.
Alpine Skiing
Reigning world champion Jasmine Flury delivered another breakthrough performance, claiming a career-first FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill title in Val d'Isère, France on Saturday (16 December).
The Swiss 30-year-old delivered the second surprise of the downhill season after double Olympic gold medallist Mikaela Shiffrin won the opening race in St. Moritz a week ago. Shiffrin opted not to race in Val d'Isère which opened the door for the defending downhill Crystal Globe winner Sofia Goggia to win a third consecutive title on the slope.
Sixth to descend, Flury flew down the course producing a fast top section and wrapping up her run in equally swift fashion for a winning time of 1:43.47. Flury shared the podium with compatriot Joana Haehlen who clocked 1:43.69 for second place with Austria’s Cornelia Huetter claiming third (1:43.71).
Flury watched nervously as the rest of the field descended, but her effort proved good enough to earn what was the third podium place of her career.
She sighed a breath of relief when Italians Goggia and Federica Brignone, the runner-up and third-place finisher from St. Moritz, fell short of her time. Goggia (1:43.47) had to be content with fourth place with Brignone finishing seventh in 1:44.41.
"It is amazing! I am extremely happy and also for the team with Joana in second place. It is a wonderful day," Flury told FIS afterwards.
"The turns were a bit bumpy and I didn't feel so good but I think nobody had a good feeling and it was just about fighting down the finish line."
An hour into the race, Stefanie Fleckenstein crashed at the bottom of the course where she received medical attention delaying the race.
Goggia leads the World Cup downhill standings on 130 points with Flury moving into second place courtesy of her victory while overall leader Shiffrin occupies fourth place.
Val d'Isère, FIS World Cup: Results of women's downhill on Saturday 16 December 2023 (Top 10):
- Jasmine Flury (SUI) 1:43.47
- Joana Haehlen (SUI) +0.22
- Cornelia Huetter (AUT) +0.24
- Sofia Goggia (ITA) +0.44
- Ilka Stuhec (SLO) +0.73
- Priska Nufer (SUI) +0.76
- Ariane Raedler (AUT) +0.92
- Federica Brignone (ITA) +0.94
- Corinne Suter (SUI) +1.00
- Mirjam Puchner (AUT) +1.03