Loic Meillard made history for Switzerland by winning the slalom gold medal at the Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria. This victory marks the first slalom world title for the country in 75 years, with Meillard’s impressive combined winning time of one minute and 54.02 seconds.
The 28-year-old skier leaves the championships with three medals overall. He secured gold in the team combined alongside teammate Franjo von Allmen and also earned bronze in the giant slalom.
Meillard is the first Swiss skier to claim slalom gold since Georges Schneider in 1950. After his remarkable first run, he built a 0.26-second lead over Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath, who finished second with a strong performance. German skier Linus Strasser took the third spot with a time of 1:54.54.
Olympic champion Clement Noel started strong, recording the fastest time in the first run. However, he couldn’t maintain that momentum during the second run and straddled a gate early on, ending his chances for a medal. Meanwhile, defending champion Henrik Kristoffersen faced disappointment, finishing far from the podium.
As the competition progressed, the course conditions worsened and dark clouds gathered. British skier Dave Ryding led at one point but ultimately dropped as top competitors made their runs. In a thrilling finale, Meillard’s second run held strong, securing his place at the top. He faced the final challenger, Noel, but the French skier’s earlier momentum wasn’t enough to beat Meillard’s time.
This championship will be remembered for Meillard’s impressive feat, showing that with determination and skill, Swiss skiing is stepping back into the spotlight.
