SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Austria’s Alpine skiing team has struck gold early at the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, marking a sharp contrast to their last hosting experience in 2013. Back then, the team had to wait until the final day to secure its first individual gold medal. Marcel Hirscher delivered that honor in the men’s slalom, giving the ski-mad nation a reason to celebrate.
This time, Austria’s gold came much sooner. In the opening individual race of the championships, Stephanie Venier triumphed in the women’s super-G, defeating the race favorites and leaving the crowd of 14,500 spectators in euphoria.
“I race for myself first, but I think I can say, ‘We are world champion,’ and that sounds amazing,” Venier said, reflecting on the weight lifted for her home country.
Venier’s victory came just two days after she was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the parallel team event, but it was a moment of redemption. The super-G win, her first individual gold in a senior competition, sent Austrians into full celebration mode.
“It’s incredible to win in front of the home crowd. Nothing beats this,” she exclaimed.
Venier, who was the junior world champion in super-G in 2013, had previously claimed a silver in the downhill at the 2017 World Championships, but Thursday’s victory was a milestone in her career.
“I’m a different Steffi now — more mature, more experienced,” said the three-time World Cup winner. Known for her love of golf and her collection of designer handbags, Venier is affectionately nicknamed ‘Aunt Gucci.’
Her triumph marked a significant boost for the Austrian team, proving that home advantage, paired with experience, could make all the difference at the prestigious skiing event.
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