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Svindal cements place as star of the slopes

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway takes part in the second run of the men's giant slalom at the world championships in Are, Sweden, on Wednesday. Svindal won the gold medal, Daniel Albert won silver and Didier Cuche won bronze. PHOTO: EPA

Aksel Lund Svindal has been asked for years whether he can fill the shoes of Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus.

On Wednesday, he proved that his feet are big enough.

Svindal added the giant slalom title to Sunday's downhill at the Alpine Skiing World Championships, cementing his position as the next Norwegian star of the slopes.

But despite the inevitable comparisons to Aamodt and Kjus -- who combined to win 36 medals at the worlds and Olympics -- the 24-year-old Svindal said it will take even more to step out of their shadow.

"It's a question I've been getting since before I even won anything, whether I would take over after them," said Svindal, who won a silver medal in the combined in Bormio, Italy, two years ago.

"But what, Kjus has 16 medals, and Aamodt has 20? I only have three, so I'm nowhere near filling anyone's shoes yet. But it's good that a Norwegian is doing well," he said.

Svindal was fourth after the first leg but used a strong second run to overtake Daniel Albrecht of Switzerland, who finished 0.48 seconds behind for the silver. Didier Cuche of Switzerland was third, 0.92 back, for his first medal at a world championship.

Bronze medal winner Didier Cuche of Switzerland weeps in the finish area during the second run of the men's giant slalom at the world championships in Are, Sweden, on Wednesday. PHOTO: EPA

"I felt after the first run I could go much faster," Svindal said. "In the second run, the top part was turnier. ... I saw right away it was a better course for me because I like to turn, and that's what I'm good at."

Svindal, who finished in a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 19.64 seconds, looked poised for a major breakthrough last year, but broken ribs dented his chances at the Turin Olympics, and put him out of contention for the overall World Cup title.

He now leads the overall and giant slalom standings after winning a GS and posting two other podium results this season.

Despite the two golds in Are, Svindal said the overall World Cup title remains his biggest goal of the season.

"Winning the overall World Cup title is the biggest thing you can win as a skier," Svindal said. "It seems like I'm the best skier this week, but if you win the overall, then you're the best skier of the entire year."

For Albrecht, the silver proves that his surprising gold medal in the combined was no fluke. The world junior GS champion in 2003, Albrecht had never finished on the podium in a World Cup or major championship race before the worlds. His best finish in giant slalom this season was 16th last month at Adelboden, Switzerland.

"I'm much more relaxed after the gold medal," said the 23-year-old Albrecht, who had the No. 23 start bib. "Everything is going so well. Where in the past I would make mistakes, now I have more speed."

Bode Miller, the 2003 champion, dropped down from sixth to 15th after an adventurous second leg full of mistakes. Defending champion Hermann Maier was 22nd after the opening run and moved up only one spot in the second leg -- but still finished as the top Austrian.

Olympic champion Benjamin Raich skied off course early in the first run.

It marked the first time that Maier will leave a worlds or Olympics without a medal, and it may have been his last major competition.

"I'm more tired than depressed," said the 34-year-old Maier, adding that he won't enter the team event that concludes the championships on Sunday.

Svindal said he would try to reload for today's slalom -- his weakest discipline -- but did not expect a third gold.

"I can be completely relaxed and just floor it, while others may be a bit more tense," Svindal said. "But I don't have good chances for winning the slalom, that's just cold fact."

Regardless, Norway can rejoice over already having found a worthy successor to Aamodt, who retired earlier this season. Kjus retired last season.
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