Racing: Kostelić back on the winners' podium
Croatian racer "brakes" his way to third place
Who would have believed it? Ivica Kostelić is back! The Croatian clinched third place in the World Cup Slalom in Adelboden (SUI). And this was only his third race after meniscus surgery in December. Kostelić made it to the podium and back on the road to victory with two safe runs. The tactician is satisfied with the result. "It's exactly four weeks since I had the arthroscopy and I'm now back in the top three again. You can't be anything else but satisfied!" After the 30-year-old went on a full attack last year and risked a serious mistake in the second run, he decided in favour of safety this time round. A sound race as a basis for further successes.
Cancelled race was confidence booster
Yesterday's Giant Slalom turned out to be a confidence booster for Kostelić. There were no official placings as the race was abandoned without the second leg taking place, but Kostelić was in third place at this point, giving him not only a good comparison but also the appropriate feedback. The result is extremely impressive, especially considering that the Fischer athlete seldom trains Giant Slalom as he had placed the focus for his comeback on Slalom training.
Two top-sevens and a ticket for the Olympics
Two other Fischer team racers also put in strong performances. Marc Gini (SUI) and, competing for Moldavia, fellow Swiss racer Urs Imboden caused the crowds to cheer. Marc Gini went from strength to strength in the second run and was delighted with sixth place. His second best result ever in the World Cup had an extremely positive side effect: Gini has now secured his Olympic ticket. Imboden's seventh place in today's race is also one of the best World Cup results of his career. This result for the 35-year-old is second only to a fifth place in Park City in the year 2000.
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