Vancouver Slalom Bronze Winner Myhrer Takes PyeongChang Gold

Andre Myhrer (SWE) became the second Swedish man to win gold in alpine skiing, when he won the men's slalom on Thursday 22 February at Yongpyong Alpine Centre. Myhrer followed in the footsteps of Ingemar Stenmark (SWE) as only Swedish men to win gold in Alpine skiing. Stenmark won gold in the slalom and giant slalom in 1980. 

At age 35 years and 42 days old, Myhrer became the oldest gold medallist from Sweden at the Winter Games, breaking the record held by Sixten Jernberg, who was 34 years and 364 days when he won the 50km classic in cross-country skiing in 1964.

Myhrer won bronze in the men's slalom in 2010 and joined join Alberto Tomba (ITA, three), Benjamin Raich (AUT, two), Phil Mahre (USA, two) and Gustav Thoni (ITA, two) on multiple Olympic medals in this event.

He said "It means everything. I've been training my whole life for a moment like this. I took a medal in Vancouver (2010 Olympic Winter Games), a bronze, but I've been always dreaming about the gold medal and now it's a reality and I'm totally blown away. I had a really good first run. I knew it was gonna be a battle in the second.

"I didn't ski that good on the top, I had a feeling, it felt like I was a little bit behind. I haven't seen the split times but that was my feeling coming into the last part and I just tried to force everything I had and luckily it was enough to go home with the gold."

The ladies' slalom was won by Frida Hansdotter (SWE) on Friday 16 February.

It was the second time Sweden won two gold medals in Alpine skiing at a single Winter Games, after 1980, when Stenmark won gold in men's slalom and giant slalom. It was also the second time an NOC won gold in the men's and ladies' slalom at a single Winter Games, after 1968, when Jean-Claude KILLY (FRA) and Marielle Goitschel (FRA) were victorious for France.

All 19 men's slalom races at the Olympic Winter Games have been won by 19 different Alpine skiers.

Silver medallist Ramon Zenhaeusern (SUI) won the third medal for Switzerland in the men's slalom, after Edi Reinalter won gold in 1948 and Jacques Luthy took bronze in 1980.

This was Zenhaeusern's second podium finish in a major competition (World Cup, world championships, Olympic Winter Games), after he won the city event in Stockholm on 30 January 2018.

This was the fourth medal won by a Swiss Alpine skier at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Switzerland reaches this total for the first time since 1994.

Zenhaeusern said "It's just crazy. It's like in a dream, I haven't realised it yet and I think it will happen some days for realising that, it's unbelievable. At the beginning it was OK because I didn't think that it would be a medal, but after, at the end when Muffat (Victor Muffat-Jeandet, FRA) was coming down and I knew... it's now about the medal.

"I couldn't see the run. I had to not look at the picture (video screen) because I was so nervous, it's crazy."

Bronze medallist Michael Matt (AUT) followed in the footsteps of his brothers Mario Matt and Andreas Matt in winning a medal at the Olympic Winter Games. Mario won the men's slalom at Sochi 2014, while Andreas claimed silver in the freestyle men's ski cross at Vancouver 2010.

Matt said "Unbelievable. I was almost lying in this finish area not even watching half of the racers who had still to go. Henrik was really fast so I knew this (MATT's time) is fourth place, but shit happens and I'm very happy with my third place."

David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, Colo.) was the top American in 18th in slalom Thursday at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Mark Engel (Truckee, Calif.) was 31st. Nolan Kasper (Warren, Vt.) did not finish the second run.