Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sestriere, Italy (dpa) - Anja Paerson's frustration turned into wild joy on Wednesday when she won elusive Olympic gold at last in the women's slalom at the Turin Games.
Paerson celebrated wildly in the finish area and was later hugged at the victory ceremony by former compatriot ski star Pernilla Wiberg after hanging on to her first-run lead and winning with a combined time of 1 minute 29.04 seconds.
"It was just one of the those days when you have total harmony. I had total charge of my thoughts," said the four-time world champion.
Paerson, who won giant slalom silver and slalom bronze in 2002, had been frustrated after winning only downhill and combined bronze earlier at the Turin Games. But she enjoyed herself and her skiing on Wednesday, which led to her being more relaxed and more focused on her skiing.
"I knew I was in bad moods here. It was hard standing on the podium with the combined bronze.
But after that night I tried to change myself and close the door to my bad feelings. I had to start thinking more about my skiing and just having fun," said the 24-year-old Paerson.
Enjoying winning the silver medal was Olympic debutant Nicole Hosp of Austria, who fought through the foggy night in Sestriere to finish in 1:29.33 minutes.
"I didn't really know what happened before my run. I knew that I really had to attack because the others weren't really that far behind me. I really wished I would win a medal here. Now I have nothing to lose in the giant slalom," said Hosp, 20.
Fellow Austrian Marlies Schild, who won silver in the combined, shot from sixth place to bronze in 1:29.79 minutes.
"For me it was very difficult. I was relatively far back in the first run. I tried to give all I had. I'm overjoyed with my result."
One of the race favourites Janica Kostelic finished fourth - 0.90 seconds behind Paerson - while Michaela Kirchgasser took fifth for an impressive performance from the Austrians.
Paerson started with bib No.1 and showed right away that she would be tough to beat.
"I was so psyched that I could start on one. I felt I had everything I needed to win," said the Swede, who injured her knee slightly in training earlier in the day.
And she used her experience as two-time overall World Cup winner to finish off her golden day.
"I know what it is to race last. You just go. You have to learn to stand up there last in the house. And today, I just enjoyed it."
And now she can enjoy her long-awaited gold.
Copyright 2006 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
