Italy Triumphs in Mixed Team Parallel Event at the Alpine World Championships!

Italy kicked off the World Alpine Skiing Championships by defeating Switzerland in the mixed team parallel event on Tuesday. This victory marked a strong start for the Italian team.

In the final heat, Thomas Tumler struggled to gain speed and couldn’t catch Alex Vinatzer from Italy. The final score was 2-2, but Italy clinched the win by finishing 0.45 seconds faster overall.

This championship could be significant for Italy, especially with top skiers like Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia in great shape and expected to perform well in various events.

“This is a great start for us,” said Italian team leader Max Carca. “We have high hopes for our female athletes.”

In a twist, the defending champions, the United States, missed out on a medal when Isaiah Nelson lost control during the crucial fourth race, leaving them in fourth place. Sweden took home the bronze instead.

Austria, the host country, was surprisingly eliminated early after a first-round bye, with Sweden advancing past them.

In the final match, Giorgia Collomb defeated Wendy Holdener, and then Luca Aerni tied the score for Switzerland against Filippo Della Vite. Delphine Darbellay put Switzerland ahead when Lara Della Mea made mistakes. However, Vinatzer sealed Italy’s win with his stellar performance.

The mixed team event has been featured in the last two Olympics, with Switzerland winning in 2018 and Austria in 2022, but it is no longer part of the Olympic lineup.

The championships continue on Thursday with the women’s super-G, showcasing Lindsey Vonn in her first world championships since 2019. Catch the action live at 5:30 a.m. ET on Peacock.