In a stunning display of skill and determination, German skier Emma Aicher claimed her first World Cup downhill victory in Kvitfjell, Norway, on Saturday. Her win came just a day after securing the first podium finish of her burgeoning career.
Aicher delivered an impeccable performance on the Olympiabakken course, narrowly triumphing over American rival Lauren Macuga by a mere 0.03 seconds. This narrow margin thwarted Macuga’s hopes of achieving her first downhill win. “It’s unbelievable,” Aicher remarked, expressing her surprise and joy, especially given that downhill events were not her primary focus.
The young German athlete, who finished as the runner-up to Austria’s Cornelia Huetter in the previous day’s downhill event, built on her impressive form. Huetter finished third in Saturday’s race, 0.19 seconds behind Aicher.
When Aicher, wearing bib 16, completed her run and saw her leading time, she appeared visibly astonished, covering her face with her hands. Macuga, gracious in finishing second, immediately congratulated Aicher with a warm embrace, acknowledging the thrilling nature of the competition.
Despite missing out on the win by a fraction, Macuga was upbeat. Her second place was a significant achievement, marking a milestone in her breakout season. It came on the heels of her previous successes, including a World Cup super-G victory and a bronze medal in super-G at the recent World Championships.
Downhill world champion Breezy Johnson finished tenth, having been delayed at the start due to repairs on the course following a crash by Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann. Meanwhile, veteran skier Lindsey Vonn, who has returned to competition at age 40, finished 16th in her ongoing comeback.
Aicher’s accomplishment marked the first downhill victory for a German woman since Viktoria Rebensburg’s triumph in February 2020, and it was the first win in Kvitfjell for a German skier since Katja Seizinger in the 1990s. Aicher commented on joining the ranks of elite German skiers, acknowledging the pressure but focusing on her performance. Born in Sweden to a German father and Swedish mother, Aicher has already achieved notable success at a young age, including a bronze in the mixed-team event at the 2021 World Championships and participation in Germany’s Olympic silver-winning team in 2022.
Her victory adds to her early career accolades from junior championships, highlighting her potential in multiple alpine skiing disciplines. In addition, Cornelia Huetter, who captured the downhill title last season, reduced her points gap to leader Federica Brignone in the season standings. The Italian athlete secured fourth place, with her compatriots Laura Pirovano and Sofia Goggia trailing in fifth and sixth.
As excitement builds for the next event, athletes prepare for the super-G scheduled for Sunday on the same hill.
