Featured Image: Team Combined Podium. Credit: GEPA
Following an impressive downhill performance, Lauren Macuga of the Stifel US Ski Team secured the lead with a time advantage of -0.23. German athlete Emma Aicher finished in 2nd place, and Mirjam Puchner of Austria finished in 3rd, +0.28 behind the lead.
The women moved on to the second segment of the Team Combined. During the next run, their assigned teammate competed in the slalom event, and the pair’s combined time distinguished the overall winner.
The race ended in a way that was unexpected from the first run’s results!
After an incredible push of passion and aggression from Stifel US Ski Team athlete Mikaela Shiffrin, she was able to make up the five-tenths from Breezy Johnson’s solid downhill run to achieve gold.
Johnson stated, “I think if you would have told us when we met that we would team up to win a World Championship medal, I don’t think either of us would have believed it.”
Shiffrin stated, “I was up there and it was nerve wracking because Breezy did her job just spectacular this morning. It was so much fun to watch her all of this time, day in and day out.”
Mikaela Shiffrin worked hard to come back to snow after her injury in the giant slalom in Killington. She was able to return in the World Cup night slalom in Courchevel, which went well for her, achieving a 10th place finish.
She was grateful to be paired with Breezy Johnson for the Team Combined, she stated before the event, “Despite everything, she still wants to help guide me back into racing. That’s so incredible for me. I’m so thankful to her for that. It feels like a gift, and I am going to do my best to earn it.”
This marks Shiffrin’s eighth World Championship gold and Johnson’s second.
Macuga and Moltzan Move Down to 4th Place
After Lauren Macuga’s incredible win in the downhill, the Stifel US Ski Team pair came into the second run -0.23 ahead of the field.
Paula Moltzan ran last, as they did a flip 30 format and she needed to stand on the outside ski and trust herself. She skied a solid run, but unfortunately it was not enough to hold them in medal contention.
The two still finished in an impressive 4th place. Lauren Macuga met Moltzan at the finish to embrace her, and she positively stated, “We will get them next time!”
The Swiss, Veteran Duo Fight for Silver
Wendy Holdener paired with Lara Gut-Behrami for the Swiss team, which is a power, veteran duo.The two athletes have accumulated 10 podium finishes in the 2025 World Cup season, so they had their goals set high for this event together.
After the downhill run, Lara Gut-Behrami was in 12th, +1.29 behind Macuga. Holdener had to buckle in to move them up to medaling position, which she did with passion and energy, concluding with a silver medal.
This marks Wendy Holdener’s eighth World Championship podium and Gut-Behrami’s ninth.
Austrians Round out the Podium
Stephanie Venier was in 7th place after her downhill run, +0.86 behind the lead. Her slalom partner, Katharina Truppe had her work cut out for her. Nonetheless, Truppe held it together and skied a strong, composed run.
Her solid skiing moved them up to the bronze medal position, finishing +0.53 behind the U.S. duo. This marks Truppe’s second medal at the World Championships, with her first also coming from a team event. For Venier, this is her third podium finish at the World Championships, having secured her first victory in the super-G just five days earlier.
Stifel US Ski Team
Lindsey Vonn of the Stifel US Ski Team is still working to find her full speed in the downhill. She finished +2.51 behind her teammate, Lauren Macuga. With a time to try to make up in the slalom, AJ Hurt had to push it to the limits.
Hurt sent it from the top to the bottom and unveiled her determination to move the pair up on the leaderboard. With her strong execution, they finished the Team Combined in 16th place.
Jacqueline Wiles finished the downhill +2.00 behind Macuga, so her teammate, Katie Hensien, had some work to move them up on the leaderboard as well.
Hensien attacked and was able to come back from a low and late line to propel through the final gates. She came across the finish line in the green light, -0.05 ahead. The pair concluded the day in 10th place.
The Canadian Pair: Gray and St-Germain
Cassidy Gray had a solid downhill run and skied clean but came into the finish arena +3.54 behind Macuga’s pace. Although the Canadians were far off the pace, Laurence St-Germain skied the slalom with energy and grit.
St-Germain pushed hard through the different rhythm changes, and was able to move the pair up from 23rd to 19th place.
Notable: World Cup points are not awarded at the World Championships, but the top 15 finishers earn World Cup Start List points, which impact their starting positions in future downhill races.
Top 3 Pair Analysis
Overall Analysis
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
