Daniela Maier and Fanny Smith did not need a courtroom to decide their fate at these Winter Games
They say if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. On day 14 of Milano Cortina, the slopes of Livigno proved that theory in spectacular fashion.
Four years ago at Beijing 2022, Daniela Maier of Germany and Fanny Smith of Switzerland were the unwilling protagonists of a convoluted medal dispute. Smith had crossed the finish line in third ahead of Maier in fourth. But the race jury flipped the result after ruling Smith had interfered with Maier, despite both skiers disagreeing. Smith appealed against the jury’s decision to the court of arbitration for sport (Cas), which overruled the officials’ decision and deemed that bronze medals should be awarded to both skiers. Smith got her bronze a year later in Switzerland.
On Friday they did not need a courtroom to decide their fate. In a high-octane final featuring the top four women in the World Cup standings, Maier seized an early lead and never looked back. She protected her line with veteran precision, crossing the finish to claim her first Olympic gold. Right behind her was Smith, claiming silver and an Olympic-record third ski cross medal.
