Olympic champion Noel earns 4th slalom win of season. Pinheiro Braathen gets 2nd podium for Brazil

KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AP) — Olympic champion Clement Noel won his fourth World Cup slalom of the season Sunday, triumphing after first-run leaders Timon Haugan and Steven Amiez both faltered on one of the most challenging courses on the circuit.

Noel climbed from fourth position to win the race, 0.09 seconds ahead of Alex Vinatzer of Italy while Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was 0.19 behind in third to earn his second podium result since his switch to the Brazilian federation.

Haugan, a one-time winner this season, posted the fastest time in the opening run but the Norwegian skied out of his second even before reaching the first split time. Amiez also fell early in his second run but the Frenchman still completed the course and ended at the back of the field.

The outcome left Noel as the only skier with more than one slalom victory this season.

“Kitzbuehel has been my favorite for a really long time,” said the Frenchman, who previously won the classic race in the Austrian resort in 2019.

“That was six years ago, and then I struggled a lot on this hill the last few races here. So, it's really crazy for me to win here today.”

Noel's triumph came with the Alpine skiing world championships nearing at another Austrian venue, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, where the men's slalom is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16.

“Of course, my biggest goal of the season are still the world championships, but Kitzbuehel is close behind. This is so important for me,” Noel said.

Pinheiro Braathen, starting for Brazil this season after leaving the Norwegian federation and taking a year off, previously finished third in a slalom in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December for Brazil's first ever World Cup podium in Alpine skiing.

“Kitzbuehel is my highlight... I was so nervous today, Kitzbuehel means so much to me,” Pinheiro Braathen told Austrian TV.

“This magic only exists here. For me, it's such a warm experience when I ski here, I'm just having fun and I'm smiling.”

Noel went top of the slalom standings, 29 points clear of world champion Henrik Kristoffersen. The Norwegian straddled a gate early in the rain-affected first run and failed to finish.

The rain became heavier during the race, limiting visibility for racers.

Albert Popov, winner of a night slalom in Italy last month, moved his finger like a windshield wiper after the Bulgarian finished his opening run 1.3 seconds off the lead. Popov ultimately placed 14th.

Dave Ryding, the first ever British skier to win a World Cup race when he triumphed in Kitzbuehel three years ago, shared 16th with his teammate Laurie Taylor.

The slalom concluded the 85th edition of the classic Hahnenkamm races, the World Cup event with the highest prize money, with each race winner earning 100,000 Swiss francs, compared to 47,000 for nearly all other races.

Next up are two night races: a GS and a slalom in Schladming on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

France's Clement Noel reacts after completing an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

From left, second placed Italy's Alex Vinatzer, the winner France's Clement Noel and third placed Brazil' Lucas Braathen celebrate after an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen reacts at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.(Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

The winner France's Clement Noel celebrates with the team after an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The winner France's Clement Noel celebrates after an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

France's Steven Amiez speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Norway's Timon Haugan speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)