Italy Wins Gold, Sweden Claims Bronze in Team Parallel at Saalbach 2025
Saalbach, Austria — The Team Parallel event at the FIS World Ski Championships delivered high-intensity matchups, tiebreak drama, and a historic gold-medal finish for Italy, which edged Switzerland in the final. Sweden secured bronze, defeating the defending world champion Stifel U.S. Ski Team.
Sweden Edges U.S. to Secure Bronze
In the small final for the bronze medal, Sweden triumphed over the United States with a 3-1 victory.
The opening heat featured Paula Moltzan of the U.S. against Olympic giant slalom champion Sara Hector. Hector, overcoming previous challenges on the Saalbach parallel course, delivered under pressure, winning by 0.07 seconds to give Sweden an early lead.
Next, River Radamus faced Kristoffer Jakobsen. Jakobsen, finding his form at a crucial moment, secured the heat by 0.24 seconds, extending Sweden’s advantage to 2-0.
Nina O’Brien then competed against Estelle Alphand, aiming to keep the U.S. in contention. O’Brien succeeded, winning by 0.35 seconds and narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
The decisive match saw Isaiah Nelson against Fabian Ax Swartz. Nelson pushed aggressively but did not finish, resulting in Sweden’s 3-1 victory and the bronze medal.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Sara Hector remarked, “We truly did everything as a team today. From the morning, we had a great atmosphere and gave it our all. It’s so cool to share this medal; everyone was a big part of it.”
Fabian Ax Swartz, celebrating his first World Championships, added, “It’s my first World Championships, and to start with a medal in the Team Parallel is just amazing. Great atmosphere and everything.”
On the U.S. side, Paula Moltzan expressed optimism, stating, “We wanted to show the world that the U.S. has some of the fastest skiers. Tonight wasn’t our night, but I believe in our team and the medal opportunities ahead.”
River Radamus shared his enthusiasm for the event and his teammates: “I love this event and racing with this team. Isaiah, our new member, brought a lot of heart. I wanted to show up for him as well.”
The bronze medal match highlighted the competitive spirit and camaraderie of both teams, setting a high standard for the championships ahead.
“It was really special skiing alongside everyone. It truly feels like a team event. I was on the limit today; it didn’t pay off, but it was a blast.” – Isaiah Nelson
With Sweden on the podium, all focus turned to the gold medal final.
Italy Claims Gold in Tiebreak Over Switzerland
The gold medal match featured two teams that had survived high-pressure quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, each advancing via tiebreaks. With the first gold medal of the World Championships on the line, Italy and Switzerland delivered another dramatic finish.
Giorgia Collomb opened for Italy against Wendy Holdener. On paper, Switzerland held the advantage, but parallel racing thrives on unpredictability. Collomb stunned Holdener, winning by 0.60 seconds to give Italy a 1-0 lead.
“It’s a perfect start for us. We’re happy. We fought, we made some mistakes but we never gave up and it’s so nice to stand up there with the silver medal,” said Holdener.
Luca Aerni faced Filippo Della Vite in the second heat. Aerni responded with a composed run, winning by 0.29 seconds to tie the match at 1-1.
Delphine Darbellay took on Lara Dellamea in the third pairing. Darbellay executed a near-flawless run, putting Switzerland ahead 2-1 and securing a crucial tiebreak advantage.
With the pressure on, Alex Vinatzer needed a big win against Thomas Tumler. Vinatzer delivered, winning by 0.61 seconds and swinging the tiebreak in Italy’s favor to secure gold.
Italy claimed victory in a 2-2 tie, winning on combined time.
“We couldn’t have started better than this! We travel a lot for moments like this and winning as a team makes it even more special. The course was amazing, the atmosphere electric, and hearing Italian songs at the start made it unforgettable. Now, we have to celebrate—maybe with some wine!” ????
Final Standings
? Gold – Italy ??
? Silver – Switzerland ??
? Bronze – Sweden ??
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The Stifel U.S. Ski Team finished just off the podium in fourth. Italy and Switzerland dominated the field, delivering one of the most thrilling Team Parallel finals in World Championship history.
The first medal event of Saalbach 2025 is complete, but more racing lies ahead. Who will stand on the podium next? The World Championships continue.
Click on images to enlarge
Team Parallel: Key Takeaways from 1/8th and Quarterfinal Rounds
The Team Parallel event at the Saalbach FIS World Ski Championships opened with high-stakes elimination rounds, setting the stage for Italy’s historic gold-medal victory. The 1/8th finals and quarterfinals delivered dominant performances, surprising upsets, and razor-thin tiebreakers that shaped the final four teams.
1/8th Finals: Strong Starts and Early Exits
With Austria and Switzerland earning automatic byes, the remaining teams battled for a spot in the quarterfinals. The defending champion United States and 2023 silver medalist Norway entered as strong contenders, while other nations looked to upset the favorites.
Germany Cruises Past Slovenia
Germany’s team—Lena Dürr, Linus Straßer, Fabiana Dorigo, and Fabian Gratz—overpowered Slovenia with a decisive 3-0 sweep. Dürr set the tone, defeating Nika Tomsic, while Straßer and Dorigo followed with solid wins, making the final heat unnecessary.
United States Opens Title Defense With Win Over Poland
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team, defending its 2023 gold medal, opened with a 3-1 victory over Poland.
- Moltzan gave the U.S. an early lead.
- Radamus fell to Piotr Habdas, leveling the match at 1-1.
- O’Brien reclaimed the lead.
- Nelson, making his debut, secured the win against Stanislaw Sarzynski.
Norway Fends Off Argentina
Norway, the 2023 silver medalist, eliminated Argentina 3-1.
- Thea Louise Stjernesund won the first pairing.
- Timon Haugan stumbled, allowing Argentina to tie the match.
- Madeleine Sylvester-Davik and Atle Lie McGrath delivered wins to push Norway into the next round.
Italy and France Dominate, Sweden Advances
Italy swept Ukraine 4-0, with Dellamea, Vinatzer, Collomb, and Della Vite leading the charge.
France overpowered Britain 4-0, led by Clara Direz, Léo Anguenot, Marie Lamure, and Thibaut Favrot.
Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 3-1, with Jakobsen’s late mistake allowing Marek Müller to avoid a sweep.
With six teams advancing, the quarterfinals featured powerhouse matchups and national rivalries.
Quarterfinals: Nail-Biters and Tiebreak Drama
The quarterfinals delivered some of the tightest matchups of the event, with two races decided on tiebreaks.
Switzerland Edges Germany in Tiebreaker
Top-ranked Switzerland faced a battle-tested Germany and advanced on a tiebreak after a 2-2 draw.
- Holdener won the opener against Dorigo.
- Gratz responded for Germany, defeating Aerni.
- Dürr put Germany ahead by beating Darbellay.
- Tumler’s win over Straßer forced a tiebreak, which Switzerland won on combined time.
U.S. Takes Down Norway
The defending champions delivered a confident 3-1 win over Norway.
- Moltzan and Radamus built an early 2-0 lead, with Radamus capitalizing on a mistake from Lie McGrath.
- O’Brien secured the victory before the final heat.
- Haugan won Norway’s only point against Nelson.
Italy Outlasts France
Italy eliminated France 3-1 in another tight battle.
- Dellamea gave Italy an early lead.
- Vinatzer and Favrot both made mistakes, but Vinatzer held on.
- Lamure kept France alive, winning by 0.04 seconds.
- Della Vite clinched Italy’s spot in the semifinals.
Sweden Stuns Austria in Tiebreak
Host nation Austria was eliminated in heartbreaking fashion as Sweden advanced on combined time after a 2-2 tie.
- Alphand won the opening heat against Julia Scheib.
- Stefan Brennsteiner answered, edging out Ax Swartz by 0.08 seconds.
- Hector capitalized on a mistake from Stephanie Brunner, giving Sweden a 2-1 lead.
- Dominik Raschner defeated Jakobsen to tie the match, but Sweden advanced on the tiebreak, silencing the home crowd.
What We Learned
Tiebreaks mattered – Many matchups came down to combined time.
Experience paid off – All four semifinalists had World Cup veterans.
Parallel racing is unpredictable – Underdogs delivered upsets.
With the first medals awarded, attention now shifts to the individual events. Can Italy’s momentum continue? Stay tuned—the racing is just getting started in Saalbach.
About the Author: Peter Lange
