KVITFJELL, Norway (AP) — Emma Aicher, a talented German skier, achieved her first World Cup downhill victory in a thrilling competition on Saturday. This remarkable win came just one day after she secured her inaugural podium finish of her career. Aicher’s exceptional performance on the challenging Olympiabakken course, particularly in the latter part of her run, allowed her to narrowly defeat Lauren Macuga from the United States by a mere 0.03 seconds, preventing Macuga from claiming her first downhill triumph.
Reflecting on her unexpected victory, Aicher expressed her emotions, stating, “It’s unbelievable. I didn’t think this was going to happen, especially in downhill, but I’m really happy with my skiing right now. It’s nice.” The 21-year-old rising star from Germany had finished as the runner-up to Cornelia Huetter in the previous day’s downhill event, with Huetter claiming the third spot on Saturday, finishing 0.19 seconds behind Aicher.
During the race, starting after many top-ranked competitors had already completed their runs, Aicher, wearing bib number 16, displayed sheer amazement as she saw her winning time upon crossing the finish line, bringing her hands to her mouth in disbelief. Macuga graciously congratulated Aicher, immediately leaving her leader seat to embrace the German skier, exclaiming, “Good job, that was so exciting!”
After the race, Macuga shared her sentiments, acknowledging that she couldn’t feel disappointed about the narrow margin of her loss, especially considering it was her first downhill podium achievement. This second-place finish serves as another highlight in the breakout season for the American skier, following her recent success in winning a World Cup super-G and clinching a bronze medal in the super-G event at the world championships just three weeks prior.
Notably, Breezy Johnson, the reigning downhill world champion, finished in 10th place, 0.62 seconds behind the leader, following a delay at the start due to safety net repairs after a crash by the previous starter, Kira Weidle-Winkelmann of Germany. Skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, making a comeback at the age of 40 with a new knee, finished in 16th place, trailing the lead by 0.95 seconds.
Aicher’s triumph marked the first downhill victory for the German women’s ski team since Viktoria Rebensburg secured a home race win in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in February 2020. Additionally, no German skier had conquered the slopes of Kvitfjell since the notable Katja Seizinger’s success in the 1990s, making Aicher’s win a significant achievement for the team.
Despite facing high expectations throughout her career, Aicher remains focused on her performance, aiming to block out external pressures and concentrate on her skiing. Born
