Loic Meillard golden again, 1st Swiss skier in 75 years to win men’s slalom at worlds
Loic Meillard made history at the Alpine skiing world championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, by winning his second world title and becoming the first Swiss skier in 75 years to claim gold in the men’s slalom event. Meillard’s impressive performance saw him edge out silver medallist Atle Lie McGrath of Norway by 0.26 seconds, while Linus Strasser of Germany secured the bronze medal, finishing 0.52 seconds behind the Swiss champion.
Reflecting on his victory, Meillard expressed his disbelief at the outcome, stating, “It’s crazy, I know slalom can be tough and sometimes so many people can ski fast, so that it worked out today, it’s incredible.” This win marked Meillard’s third medal at the championships, following his success in the team combined event with Franjo von Allmen and a third-place finish in the giant slalom.
The Swiss men’s team had a standout performance at the world championships, accumulating eight medals overall and dominating four of the five men’s events. Meillard’s triumph in the slalom event ended Switzerland’s 75-year drought in the discipline, with the last Swiss winner being Georges Schneider in 1950. The absence of Swiss medals in the event for the past 22 years made Meillard’s victory all the more significant.
Olympic champion Clement Noel, who led after the first run, faced disappointment as he straddled a gate near the end of his second run, resulting in a DNF. Meillard acknowledged the unfortunate turn of events for Noel, stating, “You never wish to win with an ‘out’ for someone else.”
Canadian skier Erik Read represented his country in the men’s slalom race, finishing 24th with a total time of 1:58:08, 4.06 seconds off the pace. Despite not landing on the podium, Read remained optimistic and focused on the positives after competing in his sixth world championships.
McGrath’s silver medal marked his first major championship podium finish, while his Norwegian teammate and defending champion Henrik Kristoffersen finished in 13th place. France ended the world championships without any medals, as injuries sidelined main medal contenders Alexis Pinturault and Cyprien Sarrazin.
Meillard’s remarkable victory and Switzerland’s strong showing at the world championships highlighted the talent and competitiveness of the international skiing community. With Meillard etching his name in Swiss skiing history, the event served as a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and determination on the world stage.
