Raphael Haaser: Home World Cup sensation with gold in the giant slalom!

Raphael Haaser: Home World Cup sensation with gold in the giant slalom!

In a thrilling competition at the home World Championships in Saalbach, the Tyrolean Raphael Haaser won the gold medal in the giant slalom. Haaser, who improved from fifth place to first place in the second round, caused a sensation and was crowned world champion - a success that Rudi Nierlich also celebrated 34 years ago. Bronze and silver went to Switzerland, with Thomas Tumler and Loic Meillard, while defending champion Marco Odermatt came home empty-handed in fourth place. The emotional 23-year-old expressed his excitement: "It's unbelievable! I've never been at the top of a World Cup race before and now I'm here at the home World Cup!", adding that this victory was surreal for him and that it would take some time before he could really believe it crown reported.

Other Austrian athletes also showed impressive performances in the competition. Marco Schwarz also improved in the second round, jumping from eighth to fifth place and thus confirming the strong result of the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV). "I tried to attack, unfortunately I made one or two small mistakes. At the bottom I was lucky that I stayed inside. Congratulations to Raphael!" said Schwarz. Haaser's victory is not only an individual triumph, but also a significant highlight for the Austrian team during this World Championship, where he had previously won silver in the Super-G, like MyDistrict.at reported.