PyeongChang 2018 ladies' super-G preview
Aug 31, 2018·Alpine Skiing
PYEONGCHANG - Austria could claim a fourth successive win in the ladies' super-G, equalling the NOC's longest winning streak in a specific event at the Olympic Winter Games. The ladies' super-G will be held on Saturday 17 February at Jeongseon Alpine Centre starting at 11:00 KST. Check local listings for broadcast date and time in your home nation.
Austria won four of the previous eight ladies' super-G races at the Olympic Winter Games, including each of the last three.
Sigrid WOLF (AUT) won the first gold medal in this event in 1988, while Michaela DORFMEISTER (AUT, 2006), Andrea FISCHBACHER (AUT, 2010) and Anna VEITH (AUT, 2014) claimed the last three titles.
This is already the longest winning streak by a single NOC in a ladies' alpine skiing event.
In all sports, Austria has won only one specific event at the Olympic Winter Games in four successive editions: the alpine skiing men's slalom from 1952 to 1964.
VEITH can become the first woman to claim multiple Olympic titles in the ladies' super-G.
Five of the last six global titles in the ladies' super-G – world championships or Olympic Winter Games – were won by Austrian skiers. The only exception in this run was the world title by Tina MAZE (SLO) in 2013.
Nicole SCHMIDHOFER (AUT) won the super-G world title in 2017 and can become the first current world champion in this event to win the Olympic gold medal.
VEITH (2014 Olympic title and 2015 world title) and DORFMEISTER (2003 world title and 2006 Olympic title) are the only women to have have won the super-G at both global championships. SCHMIDHOFER (2017) and Lindsey VONN (USA, 2009) could join them.
VONN, 33 years, could break the record for oldest female medallist in Alpine skiing at the Olympic Winter Games, set by DORFMEISTER at 32 years and 332 days when she won the ladies' super-G in 2006.
VONN won the downhill at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. She could join DORFMEISTER (both in 2006) as the only women to win the Olympic gold medal in both speed events.
VONN also won two world titles in the speed events: the downhill and super-G in 2009. She could equal DORFMEISTER on a ladies' record four titles in the speed events at the world championships and Olympic Winter Games combined.
Tina WEIRATHER (LIE) can become the sixth athlete and the third woman from Liechtenstein to claim a medal at the Olympic Games or Olympic Winter Games. Among those medallists, all in alpine skiing, are her mother Hanni WENZEL and uncle Andreas WENZEL.
Hanni WENZEL is the only Olympic gold medallist from Liechtenstein in any summer or winter sport . She won the ladies' slalom and giant slalom in 1980.
Michela FIGINI (SUI) is the only Swiss skier to win an Olympic medal in this event – silver in 1988. In all alpine skiing events, Switzerland is only waiting longer for another Olympic medal in the men's slalom. Jacques LUTHI won bronze in 1980.
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