Page 18 - ATODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 13 december 2016

Shiffrin dominates to win her 11th straight World Cup slalom

SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) —
Olympic champion Mikae-
la Shiffrin remains unbeat-
able in slalom.
The American won the 11th
consecutive World Cup
race that she has entered
in the discipline Sunday,
adding to a slim first-run
lead with a dominating
performance in her second
trip down the icy Giovanni
Agnelli course.
Shiffrin finished with a mas-
sive 1.09-second advan-
tage over Veronika Velez
Zuzulova of Slovakia, with
Wendy Holdener of Swit-
zerland placing third, 1.21
back.
“I pushed and it felt really
good,” Shiffrin said. “The
first run I felt tight and the
second run I tried to let it
fly and that’s such a good
feeling.”
Shiffrin missed two months
last season after tearing a
ligament in her right knee
during a training fall in
Sweden. She has won six
straight slaloms since her United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin competes during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom, in Sestriere, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016.
return. Associated Press
The 21-year-old Shiffrin in-
creased her lead over de- title, Shiffrin is branching out the hard and icy Giovanni does. The women’s World Cup
fending champion Lara into the speed disciplines Agnelli course, Shiffrin lost Upon completing her race, circuit had not stopped in
Gut in the overall standings of downhill and super-G control briefly and had to Shiffrin let out an adrena- Sestriere, which hosted Al-
to 105 points. this season. The multi-event spread her skis apart to re- line-filled fist pump. pine skiing races during the
Gut, who rarely races sla- approach has meant she’s gain her balance. “I tried to have some fun 2006 Turin Olympics, since
lom, finished 28th. had less time to dedicate In her second trip down, in the second run,” Shiffrin 2008.
It was the 23rd win of Shif- to slalom and that showed Shiffrin was cautious on the said. “I’m trying to entertain The women travel to Val
frin’s World Cup career, with an uncharacteristic top but then gained huge myself.” d’Isere, France, for Al-
with 21 coming in slalom mistake in her first run Sun- chunks of time on her chal- Shiffrin also led the first run pine combined, downhill
and one in giant slalom. day. lengers the rest of the way of Saturday’s giant slalom and super-G races next
As she seeks her first overall On the upper section of down — as she normally but finished sixth. weekend.q

NFL tant benefits that our re- tors said they instead set ing with the lasting scars case went to trial.

Continued from page 18 tired players and their fam- aside compensation for of a NFL career,” 3rd U.S. “Compensation for players
ilies have been waiting to treatment for some CTE Circuit Court of Appeals who are coping with these
receive,” McCarthy said. symptoms. That does not Judge Thomas L. Ambro (neurocognitive or neuro-
The deal avoids the need The settlement awards up include the depression, ag- wrote for the unanimous muscular) symptoms now is
for a trial and means the to $5 million for those with gression and mood swings three-judge panel in April. surely preferable to waiting
NFL may never have to Lou Gehrig’s disease, also reported by some former “We must hesitate before until they die to pay their
disclose what it knew and called amyotrophic lateral players who experienced rejecting that bargain estates for a CTE diagno-
when about the risks and sclerosis, or ALS; $4 million repeated concussions. based on an unsupported sis,” Ambro wrote.
treatment of repeated for past CTE deaths; and As part of the settlement, hope that sending the par- Brody approved the deal
concussions. $3.5 million for advanced the NFL admitted no fault. ties back to the negotiat- last year after twice send-
In a statement, NFL Alzheimer’s disease. Although a league official ing table would lead to a ing it back to lawyers over
spokesman Brian McCar- The average pay- during congressional testi- better deal.” concerns the fund might
thy said the league was outs would be closer to mony acknowledged a link Players’ lawyers who ne- run out. Individual players
pleased with the deci- $190,000. between football and CTE, gotiated the deal with could receive up to $5 mil-
sion. Critics complained that an appeals court said that the NFL, and stand to split lion in the case of severe
“We look forward to work- the settlement approved admission was not grounds $112 million in fees, say the brain trauma, which could
ing with class counsel and by Brody, a senior U.S. dis- to overturn the settlement. settlement will help fami- put NFL payouts over 65
Judge (Anita) Brody to trict judge in Philadelphia, “This settlement will provide lies get needed financial years, including interest
implement the settlement does not cover future CTE significant and immediate awards or medical testing and lawyer fees, at more
and provide the impor- cases. The lead negotia- relief to retired players liv- that might take years if the than $1 billion.q