Popov gives Bulgaria's ski team its first win in 45 years with victory in night slalom

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy (AP) — Albert Popov gave Bulgaria’s ski team its first World Cup victory in 45 years by triumphing in a slalom on Wednesday as four of the favorites skied out of the night race in Madonna Di Campiglio.

The victory came on the anniversary of Peter Popangelov’s lone win for Bulgaria, in Lenggries, Germany, on Jan. 8, 1980.

“A long time ago,” Popov said. “It means a lot and I want to see more children on the skis in Bulgaria, and I think this is going to do a big thing for them and they’re going to start to believe that it’s possible, and I think it’s very important for our country.”

Eighth-fastest after the opening run, Popov put down a brilliant second run on the Canalone Miramonti course and the 27-year-old tipped his head back and let out a scream of joy after crossing the finish line.

He then faced an anxious wait to see if it would be good enough for what would be a second-ever podium place. And it turned into the most unlikely of victories.

Reigning slalom World Cup champion Manuel Feller looked set to challenge him but he lost his balance and hit a gate, failing to finish for the third time in five starts in slalom this season.

Atle Lie McGrath had dominated the first run, leading by more than half a second, and was hoping for a first victory in almost three years.

The Norwegian had an advantage of 1.21 over Popov after the first split but he threw away his colossal lead as he straddled a gate.

“It’s a dream come true and it’s a long time coming,” Popov said. “I’ve been waiting a lot and I’m happy that it’s in Madonna Di Campiglio. I love the race, I love the slope, I love the people.”

Popov finished 0.44 ahead of Loic Meillard of Switzerland and 0.46 ahead of Croatia’s Samuel Kolega, who recorded his first-ever World Cup podium.

“I’m really lost for words a little bit right now,” Kolega said. "There’s been a lot of work to get here. There’s a lot of people to thank for this. It’s not just me, it’s the whole team, a lot of people who stood behind me all the time.

“It’s not just the podium for me today. I never actually scored World Cup points on this hill before and today it was really such a breakthrough for me.”

Olympic champion Clement Noel, who won the opening two slalom races of the season, and Norwegian skier Timon Haugan, who dominated the last slalom in Alta Badia, both skied out on the first run.

Meillard moved top of the discipline standings, 10 points ahead of world champion Henrik Kristoffersen and 85 points above Noel.

“Definitely not the easiest race, it’s always a challenge here in Madonna,” Meillard said. “Some mistakes happened, but at the end, another podium.

“At the moment, it’s working well. When you have a few good results, you have also confidence and you can push a bit more.”

Three-time defending overall champion Marco Odermatt, who does not compete in slaloms, remained top of the overall standings but saw his lead trimmed to 116 points above Kristoffersen.

There is another slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland in just three days, with a giant slalom the following day, and three more slalom races among a packed January calendar.

“We wanted to be in the top form in January. So with the first race, first win — this is amazing,” Popov said. “Thanks to my team, to my family. Gaia, my daughter. Thank you. This was for you guys.”

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, poses on podium with second placed Switzerland's Loic Meillard, left, and third placed Croatia's Samuel Kolega, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov sprays sparkling wine as he celebrates on podium winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov speeds down the course on his way to win an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, poses with second placed Switzerland's Loic Meillard, left, and third placed Croatia's Samuel Kolega, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bulgaria's Albert Popov gets to the finish area after completing an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Timon Haugan speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati

France's Clement Noel speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Jan.8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)