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sports Friday 29 december 2023
Mikaela Shiffrin masters tough course conditions at women's World

Cup GS for career win 92

LIENZ, Austria (AP) — When "When I came through
Mikaela Shiffrin can coast the finish, I didn't expect it
through the second run would be this much ahead,
and still win the race, her so I'm really happy with
rivals know the American that. I'm happy with the ski-
has rediscovered her best ing, I felt very strong, but I
skiing in giant slalom. think, maybe, it's one of
Seeking her first win of the those runs, it doesn't hap-
season in the discipline, pen that often," Shiffrin said
Shiffrin held on to a big after the first run.
first-run lead to triumph in The American found the
a women's World Cup GS right balance between
amid tough course condi- control and attack on the
tions Thursday. Schlossberg course, where
It was Shiffrin's 22nd career a variation of grippy snow
win in GS and 92nd overall and icy spots caused prob-
— both are World Cup re- lems for many racers.
cords. "I know from the experi-
"It's really amazing to have ence that you have to be
some good training days really aggressive on this hill,
last week, and come here but it's quite challenging
and show some of my top with the darkness and quite
skiing now," Shiffrin said. "For a lot of terrain," said Shiffrin,
sure, I managed the sec- United States' Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, women's who also won the GS in the
ond run a little bit more, but World Cup giant slalom race, in Lienz, Austria, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Austrian Dolomites in 2019.
it felt like good skiing." Associated Press Four years ago, Shiffrin also
Shiffrin lost most of her first- lost 1.25 seconds on Brig- was a little back and forth too — at another Austrian won a slalom on the same
leg advantage as she skied none in that final run. "Fed- in my thoughts," Shiffrin said resort, Semmering. hill the following day. A sla-
a rather conservative fi- erica, a few more gates about trying to maintain "My results in GS this year lom is scheduled for Friday.
nal run, posting only the and she would have prob- her first-run lead. "Every so far have been better by The first run was delayed
17th fastest time. But it was ably taken it. So, that's the (GS) race, I feel more com- far from what my GS results for 12 minutes after one of
enough to beat Federica next thing to learn for the fortable and I think I have were last year at this time. the forerunners, who test
Brignone by 0.38 seconds, coming races: you have to a really good focus with my When you miss a win for so the course before the first
a result that sent the Italian push in the second run." skiing that can be simple. long in the season, it's easy racer starts, crashed and
to the top of the discipline The American is third in I can hopefully repeat it to be like: I'm doing things needed medical attention
standings. the discipline standings, 80 more and more races, so wrong," Shiffrin said. "But for an apparent right arm
Sara Hector, the Olympic points behind leader Brig- I'm super happy with the the season is a marathon, injury.
GS champion from Swe- none and 45 behind Lara progress." not a sprint." The first starter, former World
den, dropped from second Gut-Behrami. The Swiss skier Last season, Shiffrin domi- Shiffrin positioned herself for Cup GS champion Marta
after the opening run to finished sixth Thursday. nated women's giant sla- the victory with a dominant Bassino, also slid off the
third, trailing Shiffrin by 0.45. "I was like, now I want to win lom by winning seven of first run, earning her an ad- course and into the safety
"The second run was great it but I also really don't want the 10 events, but that run vantage of 0.63 seconds netting, causing another
skiing with a little bit more to mess it up, that would of victories only started in over Hector and 1.63 over delay. The Italian seemed
space," said Shiffrin, who be so disappointing. So, it the last race of December, Brignone. unhurt.q

Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates headline 15

player finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

By JOSH DUBOW rick Willis, Andre Johnson, Hall.
AP Pro Football Writer Dwight Freeney, Jared Al- Four finalists previously an-
First-time candidates Ju- len, Willie Anderson, Darren nounced are Buddy Parker
lius Peppers and Antonio Woodson and Devin Hester in the coaching catego-
Gates joined nine return- all getting back to this step. ry, and Randy Gradishar,
ing finalists who advanced Defensive backs Eric Allen Steve McMichael and Art
to the final stage of voting and Rodney Harrison, run- Powell in the senior cat-
for the Pro Football Hall of ning back Fred Taylor and egory. They also will get in
Fame's class of 2024. offensive lineman Jahri Ev- if they get support from at
Peppers and Gates were ans made it to this stage for least 80% of voters.
announced Wednesday the first time after previously The class of 2024 will be an- Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers looks on from the sidelines
as finalists in their first year being semifinalists. nounced at the NFL Honors during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa
of eligibility. They will be The 15 finalists will be show on Feb. 8 in Las Vegas, Bay Buccaneers in Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 24, 2017.
joined on the 15-player bal- trimmed to 10 and then five when The Associated Press' Associated Press
lot by five-time finalist re- during the selection meet- season awards for 2023 will
ceivers Torry Holt and Reg- ing early next year. The final also be announced. greatest success in football. second overall by Carolina
gie Wayne. five candidates will need to Peppers and Gates were Peppers was one of the in 2002 following a two-
Seven other players re- get 80% of the votes from both college basketball league's most dominant sport career in college at
turned as finalists with Pat- the panel to get into the players before finding their linemen after being picked North Carolina.q