Goggia leads charge for World Champs speed glory – but legends gather
Feb 05, 2023·Alpine Skiing
One name stands out above all the others when it comes to the women’s speed events at the 2023 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Courchevel Meribel. And, for once in the current era, it is not Mikaela Shiffrin.
Among a field that is as wide open as it is filled with high quality skiers, it is Sofia Goggia who demands first attention.
In the past season-and-a-half the Italian has won eight out of 14 World Cup downhill races. That is a winning percentage just shy of 60%. These are, of course, the sort of numbers Shiffrin knows well in the technical events, but not yet when the racing lines are far more direct.
So, Goggia will start as a heavy favourite in the downhill but gathered behind comes two of the already most decorated female world championship skiers ever, plus two returning giants of the speed disciplines and a host of other legendary names.
Do not miss a moment. The women’s Alpine combined gets the Championships started at 11:00 local time on 6 February, with the super-G at 11:30 on 8 February and the downhill auspiciously starting at 11:00 on 11 February.
The Main Contenders
Sofia Goggia (ITA)
2023 World Cup DH: 4 wins, 1 podium
2023 World Cup SG: 2x 5th
World Championship: 2019 SG: 2nd; 2017 GS: 3rd
Olympic Games: 2022 DH: 2nd; 2018 DH: 1st
It is win or bust for Goggia. Fearless and relentlessly aggressive, she never holds back – an attitude that occasionally results in disappointment but often delivers golden success. Scuppered by injury two years ago, the 30-year-old is in prime position.
Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI)
2023 World Cup DH: 3x top-10
2023 World Cup SG: 1 win, 1 podium, 1x 4th
World Championship: 2021 SG & GS: 1st DH: 3rd; 2017 SG: 3rd; 2015 DH: 3rd; 2013 SG: 2nd; 2009 DH & AC: 2nd
Olympic Games: 2022 SG: 1st, GS: 3rd; 2014 DH: 3rd
The 31-year-old knows how to win the very biggest events and is showing no sign of slowing down. A strong season so far, allied to a career-fulfilling Olympic Games 12 months ago, makes the Swiss skier particularly dangerous.
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)
2023 World Cup DH: 4x top-10
2023 World Cup SG: 1 win, 1x 7th
World Championship: 2021 AC: 1st, GS: 2nd SG & SL: 3rd; 2019 SG & SL: 1st, GS: 3rd; 2017 SL: 1st, GS: 2nd; 2015 SL: 1st; 2013 SL: 1st
Olympic Games: 2018 GS: 1st, AC: 2nd; 2014 SL: 1st
On the verge of being crowned the greatest World Cup skier of all time, Shiffrin looks set to add to a World Championship record that stands at 13 starts, six golds, two silvers, three bronzes, a sixth and an eighth. A ‘turny’ super-G set would play into her hands, while it looks an almost impossible task to stop her in the Alpine combined. It doesn’t help her rivals that the American won the DH at last season’s World Cup Finals on these slopes.
Ones to Watch
Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR)
2023 World Cup DH: 3x top-10
2023 World Cup SG: 1 win, 1 podium, 3x top-10
World Championship: 2019 AC: 3rd
Olympic Games: 2018 DH & GS: 2nd
Mowinckel is right back in form at just the right time. She has backed up a steadily improving season with a confidence-boosting win in the super-G last month. Also a super-G victor in Courchevel Meribel 11 months ago, the Norwegian is a huge threat.
Ilkha Stuhec (SLO)
2023 World Cup DH: 1 win, 2 podiums, 2x top-5s
World Championship: 2019 DH: 1st; 2017 DH: 1st
Like Mowinckel, Stuhec has finally thrown off the effects of serious injury to storm back into gold medal contention. The Slovenian has been irrepressible this season, producing time and again to remind her rivals that she is a double downhill world champion.
Corinne Suter (SUI)
2023 World Cup DH: 3 podiums
2023 World Cup SG: 1 win, 1x top-10
World Championship: 2021 DH: 1st, SG: 2nd; 2019 DH: 2nd, SG: 3rd
Olympic Games: 2022 DH: 1st
The Swiss skier would have been right up with Goggia at the top of this list but for an untimely injury during last month’s downhill in Cortina D’Ampezzo. Suter has not raced since, but the 28-year-old could not ask for a better major event record to lean upon.
Federica Brignone (ITA)
2023 World Cup SG: 1 win, 1 podium
World Championship: 2011 GS: 2nd
Olympic Games: 2022 GS: 2nd, AC: 3rd; 2018 GS: 3rd
A long-time superstar of the women’s circuit, Brignone looks ready to add to a surprising world championship record that reads just one silver medal, claimed 12 years ago. Her super-G skiing has been on-point this season and an assault on the combined is possible.
Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener and Michelle Gisin are others who will be eying up the combined. The duo have dominated the event, winning two Olympic and two world championship titles between them. But while Holdener is in great form, Gisin will need to rely on former glories after a tricky season to date.
Home hope: Romaine Miradoli (FRA)
2023 World Cup DH: 1x top-10
2023 World Cup SG: 1 podium, 2x top-10
It will be difficult but Miradoli carries her nation’s best hopes in the speed disciplines. The 28-year-old has looked strong at times this season and will be roared on from the gate.
Bolt from the blue: Kira Weidle (GER)
2023 World Cup DH: 2 podiums, 1x top-10
2023 World Cup SG: 2x top-10
World Championship: 2021 DH: 2nd
Olympic Games: 2022 DH: 4th
It may seem unfair to pick a past world championship medallist as an outsider, but Weidle seems to like flying under the radar. She has just six World Cup podiums to her name in seven years but quietly looks ready to claim her semi-regular moment in the spotlight.
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