Beijing 2022: Women’s GS preview
Feb 06, 2022·Alpine Skiing
The start of the new week will commence with the first women’s race of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Racing is scheduled to start at 9:30 local time / 2:30 CET on Monday 7th February. Slovenia will have the honours in setting the very first course set on the yet raced Olympic hill.
Leading the women’s GS World Cup standings, Sara Hector (SWE), is undoubtedly one of the favourites heading into tomorrow’s race. The Swede has already won three out of six races so far this season, with another two podium finishes (2nd and 3rd). Her worst GS result was in the opening event of the season in Soelden (AUT) where she placed 12th. Not uncustomed to an Olympic Games, Hector placed 10th in PyeongChang back in 2018 but is showing all the signs that she will accomplish a better result this time around.
Breathing down her neck will be Frenchwomen, Tessa Worley, who has also been clocking in top performances throughout the season. Claiming three podiums, including one victory, and finishing in the top 8 in all six races, Worley will be aiming to claim the gold medal. Worley is currently sitting in second place in the GS World Cup standings just behind the Swede.
Reigning Olympic GS champion, Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), is back and ready to defend her title. The 2021 World Championship GS medallist has already claimed three GS podium finishes this season, which include two victories. Out of the six GS races, Shiffrin raced five and finished in the top 7 in all.
Even though the GS World Cup victories are split between Hector, Worley, and Shiffrin, many others will be pushing to claim gold.
Shiffrin’s slalom rival, Petra Vlhova (SVK), is another top favourite ahead of tomorrow’s race. Having claimed three GS podium finishes, however, still lacking a GS victory, Vlhova is hoping to become Slovakia’s first Olympic medallist in alpine skiing. Her best GS result came in the last Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in 2018 where she placed 13th.
2018 Olympic GS silver medallist Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR) has yet to claim a GS podium finish this season, with her best GS result being 5th in Lienz (AUT). Italian, Marta Bassino, will also be eager to beat her previous Olympic GS result where she placed 5th in PyeongChang. On a hill that is new to all athletes and coaches, anything is possible and everything is up for grabs.
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