Manuel Traninger from Austria takes slalom gold

It took a split second to scupper the US athlete River Radamus’ hope of completing a clean sweep of the alpine skiing gold medals. Winding down the course expertly in his favourite event, the slalom, he hit an icy turn too tenuously and fell.

Manuel Traninger of Austria was the fastest skier and won gold, his third medal at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games. After getting silver in the combined and bronze in super-G, a flawless second run was enough to get him to the top of the podium. “It was a very good second run for me and I can’t believe I have a gold medal now,” he said. “Super-G and giant slalom are my favourite events, so it is fantastic to win at slalom. This event has been great.”

Traninger finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 38.74 seconds. Sweden’s Filip Vennerstroem got silver, a mere 0.03 seconds behind, with Odin Vassbotn Breivik taking bronze, 1.33 seconds behind.

Manuel Traninger from Austria takes slalom gold
Manuel Traninger from Austria takes slalom gold

 “I didn’t commit to my outside ski as much as I needed too, because it’s really icy out there,” said Radamus, who had already pocketed gold for super-G, alpine combined and giant slalom, after his fall. “I lost it and went over onto my hip.

“I’d have loved to have done my best, because I’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this, but I have to be happy with how these Games have gone. The other skiers will be pleased. Yesterday the Italian Pietro Canzio told me: ‘You’ve got three medals, man, just take a break!’ But I won’t be crying tonight. I’ll be celebrating with the winner.”

Austrian Manuel Traninger won the gold medal in men's slalom at Hafjell Olympic Slope. Photo: YIS / IOC Simon Bruty
Austrian Manuel Traninger won the gold medal in men's slalom at Hafjell Olympic Slope. Photo: YIS / IOC Simon Bruty

By YIS / IOC Nick Moore

Nick Moore is a reporter for the Lillehammer Youth Information Service ‘YIS’. A sports and music journalist with 20 years of experience, he covered the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Based in the UK, he has written for numerous titles including FourFourTwo, The Independent, Q and The Times.