Reigning Olympic giant slalom champion Sara Hector of Sweden delivered a masterclass on the snow, storming to victory in the FIS Alpine World Cup giant slalom in Špindlerův Mlýn. The Swedish star clocked a combined time of 2:23.86, claiming her first win of the season and her 8th career World Cup triumph—a perfect tune-up just weeks before defending her Olympic title at Milano Cortina 2026.
Hector led after the first run and held her nerve in the second, finishing 0.18 seconds ahead of a charging Paula Moltzan (USA), who secured silver in a breakout performance. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), the all-time World Cup wins leader, rounded out the podium in third (+0.23), marking her return to a giant slalom podium after two years away from the discipline’s top spots.
The race unfolded on a challenging Czech course, with Hector showcasing her trademark precision and power. She edged out early pressure from competitors like Switzerland’s Camille Rast and Austria’s Julia Scheib (who later DNF’d in run two), then unleashed a decisive second run to seal the deal.
This victory sends a strong message to the field as the Winter Olympics approach: the Olympic gold medalist is in peak form and ready to defend her crown.
Full podium:
🥇 Sara Hector 🇸🇪 – 2:23.86
🥈 Paula Moltzan 🇺🇸 – +0.18
🥉 Mikaela Shiffrin 🇺🇸 – +0.23
Fans and analysts are buzzing: Is this the start of Hector’s unstoppable march toward another Olympic glory? With the Games on the horizon, the giant slalom battle just got a lot more exciting.
