The para alpine world championships are the ultimate test of skiing ability, and this year’s event was no different. In the giant slalom, Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest of the United States won silver, behind Austria’s Anna Veith and Switzerland’s Lara Gut. This is only the second time in history that a team from North America has won a medal in giant slalom at an international event. The first time was at the 2010 Winter Paralympics, when Robin Brown and David Miller finished fourth. Fitzpatrick and Guest are both skiers with cerebral palsy. This fact didn’t stop them from competing at the highest level; in fact, it probably helped them because they had to adapt their training program specifically for para alpine skiing. This silver medal is a big achievement for Fitzpatrick and Guest, but it’s just the beginning. They will now focus on qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, where they will look to bring home gold.
Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest win giant slalom silver
Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest of the United States took the silver medal in giant slalom at the Para Alpine World Championships in Sestriere, Italy on Sunday. The American sisters were just 0.31 seconds behind first-place finishers Germany’s Marlies Schild and Karen Friedrich but were unable to overhaul them over the course of two races.
Highlights from para alpine skiing at the Para World Championships
The para alpine skiing world championships continued on Saturday with the giant slalom. Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest of Great Britain won silver, just behind Switzerland’s Lara Gut, who took gold.
Fitzpatrick had a great start, posting the fastest time in both qualifying rounds but had to fight for position all the way to the finish line. Guest was level with Gut at the finish of the first run but closed the gap in the second run, winning by just 0.7 seconds. This was their first world championship medal and they will be determined not to let it be their last.
Elsewhere, France’s Marie-Julie Blanche finished seventh in her debut para World Championships race, Norway’s Lina Bjurstrøm eighth and Austria’s Katharina Neuner 10th.
The para alpine skiing world championships are taking place in front of the Swiss Alps
The para alpine skiing world championships are taking place in front of the Swiss Alps this week and it’s been an eventful tournament so far. Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest have both won silver medals in the giant slalom, with a third place by Austrian Juliana Rauch earning her team a bronze. In the slalom, Fitzpatrick was just 0.03 seconds behind eventual gold medalist Tina Maze from Slovenia, while Guest finished just 0.27 seconds behind American Lindsey Vonn in second place. The final event of the championships sees athletes competing in a downhill race; Fitzpatrick is leading the women’s standings after three events with a total score of 159 points, while Guest sits in second with 154 points.
Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest win giant slalom silver
Menna Fitzpatrick and Katie Guest of the United States won a giant slalom silver medal on Saturday. The two racers finished 0.14 seconds behind gold medalist Tina Maze from Slovenia. This was Fitzpatrick’s second consecutive silver medal at the world championships, as she previously won a downhill silver in 2015. Guest claimed her first world championship podium finish after finishing fourth in the giant slalom in 2015 and 2017.
