SEMMERING, Austria — Zrinka Ljutic has made history for the Croatian women’s ski team by securing their first World Cup victory in nearly 19 years, clinching the win in the final race of the year on Sunday.
With prominent competitor Mikaela Shiffrin sidelined due to injury, Ljutic showcased an impressive performance during the fourth slalom of the season. She turned in the fastest times in both runs and achieved victory with a remarkable lead of 1.75 seconds over Germany’s Lena Duerr, who finished in second place.
Katharina Liensberger, the reigning world champion from Austria, trailed closely, finishing third with a time 1.85 seconds behind Ljutic.
“It feels like a dream. It has been my aspiration since I was a child, and realizing it today feels just incredible,” Ljutic expressed, as she nears her 21st birthday next month. Over the past two years, she accumulated five podium finishes, setting the stage for this momentous victory.
Ljutic’s victory marks the first for a Croatian woman since Janica Kostelic, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, achieved her last win in March 2006.
“I felt a bit chaotic and unsure if I was fast enough, so I pushed myself throughout the final run,” Ljutic reflected on her performance. “I was determined to seize this opportunity, and I succeeded.”
Her journey to this victory began with a stellar performance in the opening run, which was mapped out by her father and coach, Amir Ljutic. Following the course he set on the Zauberberg, she navigated the 63 gates with precision, finishing significantly ahead of her competitors.
“I believe my dad is very proud. He felt a bit nervous since it was his first time setting the course,” Ljutic noted.
Each World Cup race requires a course setter, typically a coach from one of the teams, chosen by lottery before the season starts. The second run was managed by Swedish coach Sascha Soria.
“I aimed to be aggressive; the course demanded it of me. I wanted to be highly involved and let my skis flow on the straighter sections,” Ljutic explained.
Only Duerr and Camille Rast from Switzerland completed the first run with a time within a second of Ljutic’s pace. Rast finished in fourth place, just weeks after her victory in Killington, Vermont, and has regained the lead in both the slalom and overall standings.
Shiffrin, who secured victories in the season’s initial two slalom races, is currently recovering from abdominal surgery following an injury sustained in a giant slalom accident on November 30. There is no timetable yet for her return to competition.
In Shiffrin’s absence, AJ Hurt was the sole American skier to qualify for the second run, ultimately finishing 18th, 3.99 seconds off Ljutic’s winning time.
Lindsey Vonn, who recently made her return to World Cup skiing after almost six years away, is only participating in speed events such as downhill and super-G.
Additionally, Olympic slalom champion Petra Vlhova is out indefinitely following a setback in her rehabilitation from knee surgery last season.
The women’s World Cup action continues with a giant slalom and another slalom event scheduled in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, for the upcoming weekend.
