Olympics Men’s Giant Slalom medal results, highlights and more

With the Alpine combined gold already in hand, Marcel Hirscher took victory in the giant slalom. The Austrian won gold by more than a full second over Henrik Kristoffersen and Alexis Pinturault.

Entering the 2018 Olympics, Austria’s Marcel Hirscher was regarded among the best technical skiers in the world. Out of 55 World Cup victories for Hirscher, 52 came in the slalom or giant slalom. He has won six FIS world championships in the various technical disciplines and team events. Yet Olympic gold had eluded him throughout his career.

Hirscher twice finished just off the podium in Vancouver in 2010. As the reigning world champion, Hirscher managed just a fifth-place finish in the slalom. In the giant slalom, the Austrian finished 0.08 seconds off the podium behind Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal.

Before Pyeongchang 2018, Hirscher’s only Olympic medal was a silver from the Sochi slalom. Despite a career that puts him among the best all-time technical skiers, Hirscher’s quest for Olympic gold continued with Sisyphean results.

The drought was lifted right out of the gate in 2018, however. Hirscher hung on in the downhill portion of the Alpine combined, then dominated the slalom course set up at Jeongseon Alpine Centre. In the process, Hirscher captured Austria’s first gold medal in the Alpine combined since Mario Reiter in 1998.

Hirscher set himself up well for a shot at multiple gold medals.

With the Alpine combined win breaking his streak of futility, Hirscher eliminated the pressure to win his first Olympic gold medal. The technical specialists in the Alpine combined shifted from Jeongseon to Yongpyong Alpine Centre. Hirscher came out confident in the giant slalom, putting up a blistering first run of 1:08.27. With that run, Hirscher built a 0.63-second lead over Alpine combined silver medalist Alexis Pinturault of France.

MEDAL RESULT | Alpine skiing men's giant slalom

Marcel Hirscher

Henrik Kristoffersen

Alexis Pinturault

Putting up the second-fastest time in the second run, Hirscher built his lead further. The only person to put up a faster time on the second run was Henrik Kristoffersen, who came in 0.04 seconds faster than Hirscher. In the process, the Norwegian vaulted from 10th to second and relegated Pinturault to bronze.

With the second gold medal, Hirscher set himself up to become the first Alpine skier ever to win three gold medals in a single Winter Olympics. For the Austrian, his best event still lies on the horizon. Holding a massive lead in the FIS World Cup standings, Hirscher will be the favorite in the slalom and has the form to put together the best single Olympic performance in Alpine skiing history.

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