Confusion at ski worlds

Skiing: Austrian skier Katharina Liensberger was talking to reporters when she learnt that her silver medal in the parallel giant slalom event had been upgraded to a tie for gold at the world championships.

‘‘I just cannot believe it, but it’s true,’’ Liensberger said.

‘‘I was a little bit confused in the finish.’’

And she was not the only one. Ski racing’s quickfire parallel event has seen so many rule changes over the years that many fans hardly understand it anymore.

Yesterday, even athletes and organisers at Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo were so confused by the regulations that it took a while to sort out the medals.

The women’s tworun final between Marta Bassino and Liensberger ended in a tie, and organisers initially declared the Italian the winner as she came from behind in the second leg.