Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria — Camille Rast, hailing from a lineage of off-road motorbike racers, has proven her mettle on tough trails. This Swiss skier has successfully maneuvered through numerous hurdles on her way to success, including battling mononucleosis, recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus, and overcoming periods of self-doubt. Her hard work and determination have now begun to yield results.
On Saturday, the 25-year-old Rast celebrated a significant milestone in her career by securing a victory in the women’s slalom at the Alpine skiing world championships. She triumphed against her teammate Wendy Holdener, marking a noteworthy Swiss 1-2 finish. With this victory, Rast etched her name in history as the first Swiss woman to win a slalom title since the legendary Vreni Schneider in 1991, also in Austria.
“Mentally, I was ready for this day. I just wanted to make the most of it. Being on the podium with Wendy is incredible,” shared the newly crowned champion. Rast’s father, Philippe Rast, has a background in international enduro racing, which may have influenced her drive and competitive spirit. She maintained her dominance from the first run, finishing 0.46 seconds ahead of Holdener. Katharina Liensberger, the 2021 world champion from Austria, finished third, trailing Rast by 1.32 seconds. American athletes Paula Moltzan and Mikaela Shiffrin narrowly missed medal positions, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Rast has been competing at the world championships for five years and this medal marks a pinnacle in her career, especially as she had previously won gold in slalom at the 2017 junior world championships. Currently, she leads the slalom seasonal standings following her two recent victories in the World Cup circuit. “It’s been an amazing season, particularly in slalom. I didn’t pressure myself to win a medal here, and that mindset proved beneficial,” Rast explained.
Her journey has not been devoid of challenges. Not long after she started gaining recognition, Rast faced a major setback due to mononucleosis, which sidelined her for most of the 2017-18 season. After returning to form, she won the Swiss giant slalom title in 2019 but suffered a severe knee injury the next day while competing in slalom. Yet through gradual persistence, everything has aligned perfectly for Rast this season. “All the pieces fell into place today,” said Christian Brill, the Swiss team technical coach. “We always recognized her talent. Now she’s demonstrated it once more on a prestigious platform. Her focus and work ethic are exceptional.”
Wendy Holdener showcased her resilience by clocking the fastest second-run time, allowing her to rise from fourth place and secure her third silver medal at the championships. Holdener joked about holding the record for silver placements, reflecting on her return to form after having missed most of last season due to a broken ankle and coping with the loss of her brother, Kevin, earlier this year. “Earning silver is satisfactory. I’m thankful to be here in Saalbach and to experience success,” she noted, crediting her team and family for providing her with renewed strength.
This silver medal marked Holdener’s ninth medal at the world championships, equaling the Swiss record that currently stands with Lara Gut-Behrami and Pirmin Zurbriggen.
Mikaela Shiffrin, aiming for her 16th world championship medal, came close but fell short this time. Sharing the record for the most medals with German skier Christl Cranz, who was active in the 1930s, Shiffrin expressed satisfaction with her performance despite not achieving a podium finish. Returning from a two-month injury layoff, she acknowledged having some of her best skiing recently. Shiffrin had previously won gold in the team combined event, partnering with Breezy Johnson, but opted not to compete in giant slalom, feeling unprepared following an abdominal injury.
Meanwhile, Moltzan, who earned bronze in giant slalom, displayed impressive skills, finishing her final run just ahead of Shiffrin by three hundredths of a second. Notably, her final run was 0.21 seconds faster than Rast’s, but she emphasized her admiration for Rast as an outstanding competitor. “She’s truly remarkable. Her skiing is on another level. The precision of her turns is inspiring, and she’s a genuinely gracious person,” praised Moltzan.
The world championships are set to conclude with the men’s slalom event on Sunday.
