Austria’s Anna Fenninger took the women’s Alpine skiing overall World Cup title on Thursday, seizing on the cruel injury suffered by rival Maria Hoefl-Riesch.
Fenninger, 24, came second in the super-G at Lenzerheide, which was won by Switzerland’s Lara Gut, but with just a slalom and giant slalom to go, the Austrian cannot now be caught.
Hoefl-Riesch, 29, fell badly in Wednesday’s downhill hurting her arm, shoulder and leg.
The German said she “cried all night” afterwards and is now thinking about retiring.
“I will announce my decision in the coming days,” she told ARD German television.
Hoefl-Riesch’s consolation was winning the downhill crystal globe on Wednesday while Gut stopped Fenninger getting the adding the World Cup super-G title to the Olympic gold she won in the discipline in Sochi.
But Fenninger said she has had an “incredible” season.
“I think the Olympic title was important for my mental state. Since then there has been no pressure, it has not mattered what happened since. The season is perfect with the gold medal.”
The Austrian has won three World Cup races and finished in the top three 10 times this season, but knows she is fortunate to be so far ahead in the race for the general title.