Hirscher crashes out, Myhrer takes gold in men’s slalom

Marcel Hirscher crashed out in the slalom, squandering the chance to become just the third Alpine skier to win three golds in one Winter Olympics.

Even Marcel Hirscher had a bad feeling about his chances in the slalom. He did not take to the slalom course at Yongpyong Alping Centre, feeling uneasy on his slalom skis throughout training. It showed as he crashed out on in the first of two runs.

It ended his chance to become the first men’s Alpine skier since Jean-Claude Killy in 1968 to capture three golds in one Winter Olympics. He would have also joined Croatia’s Janica Kostelic as a three-gold skier, but that exclusive company was not destined to be joined this year.

Henrik Kristoffersen, the leader after the first run, suffered an early exit in his second run. The Norwegian was hunting for a second medal after taking silver in the giant slalom. Instead, his mistake opened the door for someone else to take advantage.

Andre Myhrer, the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist in the slalom, stepped right through that door and became the new gold medalist in the event. Skiing in the penultimate slot, the Swedish veteran capped a solid career with a surprise gold. Needing a big run to pass the Norwegian, Myhrer attacked the slope and found a tight line around each slalom pole.

MEDAL RESULT | Alpine skiing men's slalom

Andre Myhrer

Ramon Zenhäusern

Michael Matt

Still to go, however, was first-run leader Kristoffersen. He bolted out of the starting gate but looked a bit shaky going through the first nine poles. Then, rounding the 10th, Kristoffersen lost his edge and slid out. Though he bounced back up, the Norwegian straddled the next gate. As a result, Kristoffersen was sent out before he could even reach the first checkpoint.

As a couple of pre-race favorites took themselves out of contention, their misfortune allowed a pair of younger skiers to reach the podium. Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhäusern finished one-third of a second behind Myhrer for silver. Behind Zenhäusern was Michael Matt, who took bronze four years after his brother Mario Matt took gold in the event in Sochi.

Next: The biggest upset in Alpine skiing history

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