Jasmine Flury claims shock world downhill title after Sofia Goggia skis out

Switzerland's Jasmine Flury sprung a surprise to take downhill gold at the 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships on Saturday (11 February).

Wearing start bib two, the 29-year-old produced a smooth run to clock 1:28.03 and watched on as her rivals failed to eclipse that time on Meribel's Roc de Fer slope.

And as the threats to her lead disappeared, Davos-born Flury wept tears of joy as the magnitude of her triumph hit home.

Flury's only World Cup victory came in the St. Moritz Super G in December 2017 with her best downhill finish a second at Garmisch-Partenkirchen a year ago.

Austria's Nina Ortlieb, the daughter of world and Olympic champion Patrick, was four-hundredths behind in second with reigning world and Olympic downhill champion Corinne Suter (+0.12) taking bronze just weeks after a bad fall at Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Flury told FIS afterwards, "I still can't believe it. It's just amazing. Also with Corinne on the podium like last year in Garmisch but... here, now, it's unbelievable. Unreal."

Later in the post-race press conference, she added, “I knew my skiing was good on this kind of snow and I got more confident every day (training). Today I was feeling good, I just wanted to relax and enjoy this beautiful course and this beautiful day and I didn’t expect that I would win today.

"When I crossed the finish line I thought it was a good run, I was happy with it, and while waiting I told myself that, regardless of what would happen, I gave my best. Still, I was surprised I won today.”

Cornelia Hütter, who tied for bronze in the Super G, finished tied for fourth with Austrian teammate Mirjam Puchner.

Runaway World Cup downhill leader Sofia Goggia was well in touch approaching the lower section of the course, but almost fell on a steep section.

Italy's PyeongChang 2018 gold medallist - wearing a black armband in memory of former team-mate Elena Fanchini who passed away on Wednesday - somehow managed to stay upright, but was disqualified for straddling a gate in her recovery.

Goggia told RAI she was "more than disappointed, I feel sorry". She added, "I gave everything I had and until that (straddle) I wasn't doing bad. I didn't even realise I straddled, it was all too quick. In training, I never dominated because it's a course where you can make the difference in just two or three points. The rest is relatively easy.

"I came to these Worlds not in favourable conditions and I tried to give everything I had. It's a pity I missed out on a medal that was achievable. I have to get over the disappointment then I'll try to focus now on the next race in Crans Montana."

Results - 2023 World Championships women's downhill (top 10):

1. Jasmine Flury (SUI) 1:28.03
2. Nina Ortlieb (AUT) +0.04
3. Corinne Suter (SUI) +0.12
4= Cornelia Hütter (AUT), Mirjam Puchner (AUT) +0.37
6. Ilka Stuhec (SLO) +0.42
7. Stephane Venier (AUT) +0.57
8. Kira Weidle (GER) +0.61
9. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) +0.71
10. Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR) +0.84