Rothfuss halts Bochet’s unbeaten run

“As I said before, half-a-year ago I didn’t think I could reach the top of the podium and now I’ve got the gold medal. Super cool.”

Germany’s Andrea Rothfuss sensationally grabbed gold ahead of French multiple world and Paralympic champion Marie Bochet at the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, on Monday (30 January), ending the Frenchwoman’s extensive gold medal streak.

Rothfuss crossed the line first in the women’s giant slalom standing, claiming her first world title since 2011.

Bochet was unbeaten in any discipline across two World Championships in 2013 and 2015 with 11 golds, and had continued in Tarvisio adding a further three golds to her haul.

An overwhelmed and tearful Rothfuss, who has also been recovering from injury like Bochet, commented: “I had a really good run and I was like ‘I hope I can make it but if not’…yeah…I don’t have any words for this!

“As I said before, half-a-year ago I didn’t think I could reach the top of the podium and now I’ve got the gold medal. Super cool.”

Bochet had laid down the leading time in the first run, but the German was hot on her tail just 0.02 seconds behind. Rothfuss then put in an exceptional second stint, enough to knock Bochet into second by 0.71.

Canada’s Alana Ramsay picked up her fourth medal in as many events with bronze.

The French did taste gold in the men's standing however.

Sixteen-year-old Arthur Bauchet – skiing in his first World Championships – stormed to the top of the table with the two fastest runs.

“It’s a dream. It’s incredible,” the youngster, who claimed his second medal of the week, said.

He edged Swiss 20-year-old Theo Gmur into second and Canada’s Alexis Guimond, 17, into third. Both men stepped onto their first World Championships podium.

Canada’s Paralympic champion Mac Marcoux maintained his perfect record in the men’s visually impaired with guide Jack Leitch, determined to make up for losing out on the giant slalom title in 2015.

“I think we’re both beyond stoked,” Marcoux said of his third gold from Tarvisio 2017. “Our tech hasn’t been good this season, it’s been a work in progress all year round. We’re happy to be able to lay two down today. It’s been a really good day.”

Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli and guide Fabrizio Casal, riding a wave of confidence after their super combined win on Saturday (28 January), picked up his third medal with silver.

Spain’s Jon Santacana Maiztegui, guided by Fabrizio Casal, did enough with their first run to claim bronze.

Slovakian Paralympic champion Henrieta Farkasova grabbed her third gold with guide Natalia Subrtova in the women’s visually impaired.

Before thanking Subrtova for guiding her despite suffering from a fever, Farkasova said: “We are very happy. It’s a tough day especially for my guide.

“Conditions are hard of course, we’ll have to see how we will feel. But hopefully we will make it to the slalom [on Tuesday] so we can ski hard and show our best.”

One of Farkasova’s new rivals, Great Britain’s downhill world champion Millie Knight, collected silver with guide Brett Wild. Her teammate Menna Fitzpatrick sealed her first medal of the competition with bronze, guided by Jennifer Kehoe.

Dutch skier Jeroen Kampschreur emerged out of a fierce battle to top his second podium of the week in the men’s sitting.

The USA’s Andrew Kurka was determined to improve on his seventh-placed first run, following up with the fastest time to take silver. Austria’s Markus Gfatterhofer was third; his first Worlds medal.

Austria’s Claudia Loesch equalled the double-gold medal haul of her German rival Anna Schaffelhuber in the women’s sitting.

Loesch, the champion from 2013, reclaimed her title from Schaffelhuber in style. She finished nearly three seconds ahead to go into Tuesday’s slalom with the psychological advantage.

Japan’s Momoka Muraoka sealed her third bronze medal of the week, matching her finish from the last Worlds.

Full results are available at Tarvisio2017.com.

Slalom will be conclude the Championships on Tuesday (31 January). All races are being shown live, alongside live results, at Tarvisio2017.com.

Right free pictures for editorial use are available for download at Flickr.

Broadcast quality race footage is also available on request by contacting sascha.beck@paralympic.org.

The competition can also be followed on Facebook.com/ParaAlpine, Twitter and Instagram (@ParaAlpine).