20-year-old German skier edges out veterans in women's giant slalom

WHISTLER — Young German Viktoria Rebensburg out-skied all the veterans today to take women’s giant slalom gold at the 2010 Olympics.

Just 20 years old, Rebensburg turned in a solid second run early this morning to finish with a combined time of two minutes, 27.11 seconds. She edged Tina Maze of Slovenia by 4/100ths of a second and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria by 14/100ths.

The first run was held Wednesday, but the second had to be postponed today because of a thick fog that settled over the middle part of the course in the afternoon.

Today, the fog wasn’t as thick and it was mostly good conditions for the top 30.

While it might have been a bit of a surprise that Rebensburg was in front of such favorites as Kathrin Zettel of Austria (fifth), Kathrin Hoelzel of Germany (sixth) and Tanja Poutiainen of Finland (13th), she has been considered a rising star on the World Cup circuit since she burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old with a seventh-place finish in a giant slalom.

Last February, she was ninth in giant slalom and 10th in super G at the world championships, then a month later swept both those disciplines at the world juniors in her home country.

This season, she was top 10 in five of six World Cup giant slalom races, including a second at the last event before the Olympics.

“She won world juniors by, like, a second and a half and she has a lot of potential,” said Canadian Marie-Michele Gagnon, who is the same age as Rebensburg and has skied against her a lot in junior competition.

“She’s been doing top 10s since 17 almost. Growing up, she’s my idol almost. It’s almost funny to say that.

“But I know that I can ski to her level. I raced FIS races last year and was in front of her, so I know one day I’ll be there.”

Gagon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., was the best of the four Canadians in the race, finishing 21st in 2:28.89. Britt Janyk of Whistler was 25th, Shona Rubens of Calgary 28th and Marie-Pier Prefontaine of Saint Sauveur, Que., 29th.

Defending Olympic champion Julia Mancuso of the U.S., who was just 18th after the first run when she needed to re-run the course after being flagged down when her teammate, Lindsey Vonn, crashed into the netting, posted the fastest time today. But her run of 1:11.24 could only move her up to eighth place with a combined time of 2:27.66.

Source: Vancouver Sun

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