Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

A17
Monday 4 deceMber 2017

Hirscher

storms back REXIT

to win World

Cup GS, Ligety

takes 7th

By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP)
— Lounging on the couch
with his broken left ankle in
a cast, Marcel Hirscher felt
something he hadn’t in a
long time — no pressure.
Now that he’s back on the
slopes with his ankle mend-
ed and returning to his
winning ways, that familiar
tension has returned.
The six-time overall World
Cup champion can’t es-
cape the one glaring omis-
sion from his impressive
resume: an Olympic gold.
He insisted he doesn’t give
it a second thought head-
ing into the Pyeongchang
Games. Still, all eyes will
be on him constantly be-
tween now and February.
Especially after a perfor-
mance like Sunday’s. The
Austrian standout stormed
back from a first-run deficit
to win a World Cup giant
slalom race on an after-
noon when rival Ted Ligety
struggled. Patriots win eighth straight
Hirscher finished in a com-
bined time of 2 minutes,
37.30 seconds to show he’s with 23-3 victory over Bills
getting back up to speed
after breaking his ankle in
a training accident in Au-
gust. Henrik Kristoffersen of
Norway was second, 0.88
seconds back, and first-run
leader Stefan Luitz of Ger-
many took third. New England Patriots running
“Today I thought: ‘OK, let’s back Rex Burkhead (34)
go for it. Let’s give it a try. drags Buffalo Bills free safety
Let’s see what’s possible,’” Jordan Poyer (21) and strong
Hirscher explained. “So un- safety Micah Hyde on his
expected was never a win way to score a touchdown
before.” during the second half of an
Sitting next to him, Krist- NFL football game, Sunday,
offersen couldn’t help Dec. 3, 2017, in Orchard
but chime in. “I’m not Park, N.Y.
surprised,” Kristoffersen Associated Press
said. “Come on, Henrik,”
Hirscher responded. Page 20

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