Shiffrin Needs to Step Up for Gold

Camille Rast Leads After First Run at World Championships Slalom in Saalbach

Camille Rast of Switzerland currently leads the women’s slalom event at the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, after posting the fastest time in the first run on Saturday. With a time of 58.91 seconds, Rast edged out the home-country favorite Katharina Liensberger by 0.58 seconds.

Mikaela Shiffrin, the American skiing sensation, is in third place, 0.72 seconds behind Rast. She is looking to secure her 16th World Championship title, which would further solidify her legacy in the sport.

Liensberger was the first skier on the course, putting down an impressive run of 59.49 seconds, which set the early pace. Despite strong performances from both Wendy Holdener and Shiffrin, neither could beat Liensberger’s time.

Shiffrin started the race with a solid pace, leading at the first two splits, but faltered in the middle section, losing valuable time. As Rast took to the course in the fourth position, she executed a flawless run, attacking the course with precision and building an impressive 0.85-second advantage by the midpoint. She held on to finish 0.58 seconds ahead of Liensberger, moving into the top spot.

Beyond the top three, no other skiers managed to get close to the top four positions. U.S. skier Paula Moltzan, in fifth, finished well behind, trailing Rast by a considerable 1.55 seconds.

With the first run complete, the stage is set for an exciting second run as the top contenders push for the coveted World Championship title. The competition is fierce, but Rast’s commanding lead makes her a favorite heading into the final leg of the event.