Veteran Goetschl celebrates two globes in two days, and still feels able to challenge for overall

Veteran Goetschl celebrates two globes in two days, and still feels able to challenge for overallThe champagne tasted especially sweet for Renate Goetschl on March 11 in Sestriere, Italy, after she clinched her second World Cup title in 24 hours.

Seventh place in the super G was moderate by her standards, but it was enough to complete a double in the speed disciplines and spark off another party for the dominant Austrian team.

“This is just great for me, I think I’m going to drink a bit more champagne over the next two days,” said Goetschl, swigging from a bottle in front of an army of adoring fans at this sun-drenched Italian resort.

“For four years I have been fighting to get a big win and now I have two in two days so I feel great,” she said. “Today’s was a tactical run, I was in the lead in the standings so I didn’t want to take any chances.”

Yet two years ago she thought days like this might be confined to her memory after a serious knee injury cast a dark cloud over her career.

She missed the start of last season after recovering from surgery, but, like teammate Hermann Maier, has proved the doubters wrong by returning to the top of the sport she dominated in 2000 when she won the overall title.

“I think we have the same story really,” said the Austrian who, with 33 career World Cup victories, is the most successful woman skier on the circuit.

“We both had big injuries and it’s tough to come back from that, but we managed to find solutions. To have a day like this is what gives you the motivation to fight on. I watched Hermann win the men’s super G today with a fantastic run; nothing is a surprise with him.”

Goetschl could still be crowned overall champion this season, although she laughs off the suggestion, saying her mission is complete having won the downhill.

Finishing behind World Cup leader Anja Paerson in Thursday’s super G means she trails the prolific Swede by 77 points with just two slalom races to go, both of which Paerson is favored to win.

But Goetschl believes that, at 28, she still has what it takes to hold off a new generation of multi-talented skiers and win another overall title. “Paerson is very young and getting better at super G so she is going to have three disciplines where she can win and Janica (Kostelic) will be formidable when she gets back from illness,” Goetschl said.

“But I feel that I still am not totally 100 percent from my injury and, hopefully, I can get better and better in the giant slalom and win another overall title, maybe next year,” she said.