Giant Slalom Gold medals for Gut-Behrami & Faivre - Ted Ligety says goodbye

The HEAD World Cup Rebels continue to cause a sensation at the World Championships in Cortina: The HEAD team won all four Gold medals in the speed disciplines, a Gold in the Parallel event and both Gold medals in the Giant Slalom with Lara Gut-Behrami and Mathieu Faivre. That puts the two HEAD team stars in the footsteps of one of the greatest ski athletes of all time:  Ted Ligety - aka Mr Giant Slalom - who crossed the finishing line in his unique career during the World Championships.

 

"The Giant Slalom results were great in the women's event, but in the men's competition we were hoping for a bit more following the first run. It was bitterly disappointing for Alexis Pinturault. But it is immensely satisfying to have both Giant Slalom World Champions on the team," is how HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber analysed the results. "Mathieu Faivre used a new model of skis in the Parallel event. This was the first time that he used the new skis in a Giant Slalom. And by the look of it, this ski delivered a real boost. But the three athletes who were leading after the first run all had different models of ski. And all three worked very well."

 

Two Golds and a Bronze for Lara Gut-Behrami

 

For Lara Gut-Behrami it was the most successful World Championship in her career. Before Cortina, the 29-year-old had never stood on top of the podium at any World Championship, and now she leaves the Italian skiing metropolis having bagged two Gold medals. She followed up her Gold in the Super-G with another World Championship title on Thursday in the Giant Slalom. In addition, the Swiss athlete also takes away the Bronze medal in the Downhill. "I really wanted to win a medal in the Giant Slalom. This discipline means a lot to me. The fact that I was able to ski such a long Giant Slalom course so well makes me very happy. I like Cortina, and when I go home I will enjoy thinking about the great time I have had here," said Lara Gut-Behrami at the finish.

 

Mathieu Faivre and Lara Gut-Behrami: The double World Champions

 

Mathieu Faivre also bagged two World Championship titles in Cortina. Having won the Gold medal in the Parallel event, the French athlete also triumphed in his showpiece discipline, the Giant Slalom, on Friday. After the first run the 29-year-old was in fourth place. "It's still hard to believe what happened today. It wasn't as easy to enjoy because of Alexis dropping out. But I'm proud of the way I skied. I felt very good on the skis," said Mathieu Faivre happily. Alexis Pinturault dropped out on the second run after clocking the fastest time on an outstanding first run.

 

Ted Ligety - one of the greatest ski athletes - finishes his career

 

Ted Ligety, one of the greatest ski athletes, announced during the World Championships that he is ending his career. The American athlete wanted the last race of his career to be the Giant Slalom in Cortina on Friday. Back pain, however, prevented him from competing. During his highly successful career, Ted Ligety won two Olympic Gold medals in the Giant Slalom and Combined event and is five-time World Champion. In 2013 he was crowned king of the World Championships in Schladming with three Gold medals in the Giant Slalom, Super-G and Combined event. Aka Mr Giant Slalom, he dominated this discipline for many years and won the Crystal Globe five times. Ted Ligety also won a Combined event World Cup. The 36-year-old notched up 25 World Cup victories - 24 in the Giant Slalom, and one in the Combined event.

 

"Ski athletes can only push themselves to the limit and reach their full potential if they have the right equipment. I'm really pleased that I could ski with HEAD for the last eleven years. HEAD strengthened my skills even more. I have achieved something on HEAD skis that I hardly imagined was possible. HEAD did more than help me achieve my goals and dreams. The team at HEAD also became part of my extended family," said Ted Ligety.

 

"Thank you Ted for an amazing time together. You defined the perfect turn and also the perfect teamwork. You retire as a great hero and I wish you the best for your next career, which I am sure will be a success no matter what you decide to do. We miss you already!" emphasised HEAD CEO Johan Eliasch.

 

"It's a shame he wasn't able to compete in this World Championship. We have experienced so many great things together with Ted since 2010. His Olympic and World Championship medals, his World Cup victories and record-breaking winning times - Ted Ligety has left a significant mark on the HEAD brand in Giant Slalom. I wish him all the best for the future. He now has a family of five, and it is the right time for him to focus on his family," said HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber.

Ted Ligety Retirement graphic