The women’s slalom hadn’t crowned a Maple Leaf representative as world champion since Anne Heggtveit in 1960 in Squaw Valley, Calif.
I was convinced that if I followed my plan and stayed calm, good things would happen. But the victory is… totally unexpected
exclaims St-Germain with a broad smile on his face.
« I don’t know what to think, I don’t quite understand what’s going on yet. I’m really happy with my run, I just really wanted to attack. […] I repeated to myself at every door: “Down, down, down.” Crossing the finish line, I didn’t even believe it, I was just happy to be third. It’s beyond what I could have imagined. »
The Quebecer first recorded the third fastest time in the initial round, before propelling herself to the top step of the podium during the second stage thanks to a combined time of 1 min 43 s 15/100.
St-Germain also benefited from small mistakes by American Mikaela Shiffrin (1:43.72), alone at the top halfway through the competition, who was relegated to second place ahead of Germany’s Lena Dürr (1: 43.84).
I didn’t watch Mikaela Shiffrin’s run. As it’s my first podium, I was looking for my place, I didn’t really know where to put myself, I was a little distracted. Never thought I’d beat her without her missing a door
confides the new queen of slalom.
Slalom is the most difficult discipline because it is the fastest. You can’t make mistakes like the ones I made at the end of the giant slalom. The layout was completely different in the second run. I tried to execute the right plan, it wasn’t perfect, but that’s also because Laurence was amazing
says Shiffrin, paying tribute to St-Germain.
Laurence St-Germain
Photo: Getty Images / Giovanni Auletta/Agence Zoom
For her first podium both on the World Cup circuit and at the worlds, the skier from Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges outpaced the Colorado comet by 57 hundredths of a second overall. His best individual result was previously a 6th place.
I really didn’t expect that. It’s incredible! I was very stressed before the second run and I was nauseous, but I’m used to it. I made a mistake at the top of the course, except I continued telling myself to go all the way down. And it worked
said St-Germain, very cheerful, at the microphone of the International Ski Federation.
The representative of the maple leaf confirmed her grip on a medal when she moved to the top of the standings in the second run when there were only two other skiers left to start, including Shiffrin.
Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener then ran off the track, while the American, surprisingly, couldn’t keep up with the pace and speed of the 28-year-old.
I was waiting for the podium with Lena [Dürr]. I asked him which side I should be on for 2nd position while Mikaela [Shiffrin] was going down… because in my head, she was going to beat me. It was she who told me to wait and that the gap was going down. Afterwards, she turned and said to me: “you have to go in the middle”
est esclaffée St-Germain.
This unexpected title for St-Germain comes on top of the coronation of his compatriot James Crawford, winner of the super-G in Courchevel during the first week of the World Championships.
Bronze medals were also won by Canada in the mixed team parallel event, as well as in the downhill following Cameron Alexander’s feat.
These four crowns at the same worlds constitute a national record, the previous mark being three during the 1958, 1968 and 2017 editions.
« I am proud to be part of this team which had excellent World Championships. Men are now among the greats in speed. Our success is impressive. But all season we have been good at speed. And Valérie Grenier won her first victory in Kranjska Gora [en slalom géant au mois de janvier]I was inspired by it. »
In the shadow of the winner, Canadian Ali Nullmeyer (1:44.48) finished in 12th position after jumping six places between the two courses. Less luck in the case of Amelia Smart, who finished in 24th place, a drop of seven places.
The Alpine Skiing World Championships disputed in Courchevel and Méribel will come to an end on Sunday with the holding of the men’s slalom.
Philippe Crépeau and Geneviève Simard explain how Laurence St-Germain won the first world title of her career.