Slovenia’s Tina Maze won her second Sochi Olympic title with victory in the women’s giant slalom. Maze, 30, who shared downhill gold with Dominique Gisin earlier in the programme, led by 0.52 seconds after the first run. She was as solid in the second run, winning by 0.07 seconds in 2:36.87. Super-G champion Anna Fenninger of Austria claimed her second medal with silver while German defending champion Viktoria Rebensburg won bronze. Celebrated violinist Vanessa-Mae, competing for Thailand as Vanessa Vanakorn, was the 67th and last finisher on her Olympic debut with a time of 3:26.97 – 50 seconds behind Maze. The Slovenian, who won silver in giant slalom and super-G in Vancouver four years ago, led Sweden’s Jessica Lindell-Vikarby after run one and held on despite only posting the 11th fastest time in the second
descent. She celebrated by belly-flopping onto the wet snow and pretending to swim the breaststroke. “I have dreamed about a day like this, even though it is raining,” she said. “I feel proud, I think I will realise what I have done many years later.” Maze is the oldest Olympic women’s giant slalom champion and the second female to do the downhill-giant slalom double at a Games after Switzerland’s Marie-Therese Nadig in Sapporo in 1972. American Julia Mancuso, who won bronze in the combined event, crashed out on the first run, while Germany’s double Sochi medallist Maria Hoefl-Riesch pulled out ahead of racing with a sore throat.By Rob Hodgetts – BBC Sport
