Henrik Kristoffersen wins emotional slalom world title, AJ Ginnis claims historic silver for Greece

Henrik Kristoffersen produced a sensational comeback to clinch the men's slalom title on Sunday (19 February) in the last event of 2023 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships.

The Norwegian, who was 0.91 seconds off the pace of first-run leader Manuel Feller, set the fastest time early on in the second run and saw all the late racers finish behind him one by one as ruts formed on the course in Courchevel, France.

"It's way worse sitting at the bottom waiting than standing at the start leading after the first run," the 28-year-old said in the post-race press conference.

"I didn't think (about a medal) in the beginning because I didn't think I skied quick enough at the top. I thought it (the lead) wasn't going to be enough. Today it would have been a crazy achievement just being on the podium, but I think it was about time because I've won more than twice as many slalom races than the second on the list.

"I have 49 World Cup podiums in slalom, and I had won most things in slalom except Olympic gold and World Championship gold. So it was about time."

Following his maiden World Cup podium in Chamonix, Alexandros Ioannis 'AJ' Ginnis held on to his second position from the first run to claim a shock silver for Greece, their first World Championship medal in any Olympic sport on snow or ice.

Alex Vinatzer took bronze, 0.38 seconds behind Kristoffersen, to add a senior medal to his gold and silver from the junior competition.

Greece's history maker AJ Ginnis: "It's a dream come true"

Kristoffersen has become the fifth Norwegian skier in history to win the men's slalom title at the Worlds after Stein Eriksen (1954), Kjetil Andre Aamodt (1993), Tom Stiansen (1997) and Sebastian Foss-Solevåg (2021).

Reigning world champion Foss-Solevåg dropped from fifth to 19th after the second run, while Beijing 2022 gold medallist Clement Noel was fourth, missing the podium by just three hundredths of a second.

But the fairytale of the day was provided by Athens-born Ginnis who previously represented the United States having moving to Vermont aged 15.

Wearing start bib number 24, the 28-year-old was tied with Norway's Lucas Braathen for second after the first run with the pair just 0.13 behind Feller.

In the end, only Kristoffersen could clock a quicker aggregate time with a stunned Ginnis saying afterwards, "This is a dream come true, I really don't know what to say.

"Fighting back from injuries, getting cut from teams, trying to fundraise for what we're doing now... I thought two weeks ago was crazy, getting my first World Cup podium, and to be able to ride that wave until today was just special."

He added, "Last year I tore my ACL and when I came back I told myself that my goal was going to the next Olympic cycle being a medal contender. A year later, I'm sitting with a silver on my neck at the World Championships, it's just crazy to think."

The event wrapped up the 2023 World Championships with Switzerland topping the medal table with seven including three golds, while skiing powerhouse Austria failed to win a gold for the first time since 1987.

Results – 2023 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Men's slalom on Sunday 19 February

1. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) 1:39.50
2. AJ Ginnis (GRE) +0.20
3. Alex Vinatzer (ITA) +0.38
4. Clement Noel (FRA) +0.41
5. Sebastian Holzmann (GER) +0.62
6. Marco Schwarz (AUT) +0.65
7= Lucas Braathen (NOR), Manuel Feller (AUT) +0.67
9= Linus Strasser (GER), Ramon Zenhausern (SUI) +0.69