Kriechmayr wins two speed golds at worlds
Hermann Maier. Bode Miller. Vincent Kriechmayr.
A feat previously achieved only by two legends of men’s Alpine skiing was matched by Austrian skier Kriechmayr at the world championships on Sunday.
Kriechmayr added downhill gold to the super-G title he won three days ago to complete the so-called speed double.
Fellow Austrian Maier had done the same in 1999, American standout Miller six years later.
“Hermann Maier is an Austrian legend and Bode Miller is a legend, too. To be on the same step is really amazing,” Kriechmayrsaid.
“I don’t compare myself to Hermann or Bode Miller, they were also Olympic and World Cup overall champions,” said the Austrian, adding it would take time to sink in.
“I’m rather someone who enjoys this quietly, who reflects on it later.”
By winning the most important downhill of the season, Kriechmayr presented the outgoing president of the Austrian winter sports federation with an ideal gift.
For Peter Schröcksnadel, who is expected to step down in June after 31 years, no races are more important than the downhills at the major championships.
“Downhill gold is what’s the most important in Austria,” Schröcksnadel said.
The race against the backdrop of snowcovered peaks in the Italian Dolomites lived up to its billing as one of the most eye-catching downhills of the season, with spectacular crashes, faltering favorites, a surprise medalist, and the smallest possible winning margin.
Kriechmayr edged Andreas Sander of Germany to the gold by one-hundredth of a second, with 2017 world champion Beat Feuz finishing 0.18 behind for the bronze.
Sander earned the German team its third silver medal at these worlds, after second-place finishes for Romed Baumann in super-G and Kira Weidle in women’s downhill.
“It’s a mega feeling,” Sander said. “We have a great atmosphere in the team after Romed got silver and Kira as well.”