. world ski news : Rebensburg takes surprise giant slalom gold - 25 February 2010 - 20:38
OLYMPICS, ALPINE SKIING. WHISTLER, British Columbia – Unheralded Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany has taken a surprise victory in the Olympic giant slalom, with the first-run leaders slowed by dense fog.
Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany competes during the Ladies Giant Slalom second run on day 14 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)
Rebensburg, who had never won a major race, clocked a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 27.11 seconds Thursday down Franz's GS.
Tina Maze of Slovenia was second, 0.12 seconds behind, matching her result in super-G, and first-run leader Elisabeth Goergl of Austria added another bronze, 0.49 back, duplicating her result from downhill.
Tina Maze of Slovenia competes during the Ladies Giant Slalom first run on day 13 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 24, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 23, 2010 - Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images North America)
Elisabeth Goergl of Austria competes during the Ladies Giant Slalom second run on day 14 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)
Rebensburg stood only sixth after the opening leg.
Defending champion Julia Mancuso of the United States finished eighth.
The Associated Press
25 of February, 2010, 19:20 CET
Julia Mancuso of the United States competes during the Ladies Giant Slalom second run on day 14 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)
A detail of one of the gates on the slalom course is seen during a delay in the Ladies Giant Slalom on day 13 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 24, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. The second run of the Ladies' Giant Salom has been officially postponed to February 25. (February 23, 2010 - Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)
Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany celebrates winning the gold medal during the flower ceremony for the Ladies Giant Slalom on day 14 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images North America)
Tina Maze of Slovenia, Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria react after they had completed their runs during the Ladies Giant Slalom second run on day 14 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images North America)