SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — When Austria last hosted the Alpine skiing world championships in 2013, it had to wait until the final day for the team's first individual gold medal. Marcel Hirscher saved the ski-mad nation’s honors in Schladming in the men’s slalom.
Austria's wait for gold at the ongoing worlds in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, though, is already over after the first individual race.
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Austria's Stephanie Venier, second from left, winner of a women's Super-G, celebrates on the podium with second-placed Italy's Federica Brignone, left, and joint third-placed Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, second from right, and United States' Lauren Macuga, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
United States' Lindsey Vonn arrives at the finish area after crashing during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn arrives at the finish area after crashing during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
United States' Lindsey Vonn arrives at the finish area after crashing during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier, second from left, winner of a women's Super-G, celebrates on the podium with second-placed Italy's Federica Brignone, left, and joint third-placed Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, second from right, and United States' Lauren Macuga, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier celebrates on the podium after winning a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. At right is third-placed Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
United States' Lindsey Vonn at the race inspection ahead of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie speeds down the course during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States' Lauren Macuga speeds down the course during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
United States' Lauren Macuga celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier speeds down the course during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Austria's Stephanie Venier celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Cheered on by 14,500 spectators on Thursday, Stephanie Venier beat the pre-race favorites in the women's super-G which Lindsey Vonn didn't finish after hooking a gate.
“I race for myself in the first place, but I think one could say, ‘We are world champion.’ That sounds cool," Venier said about releasing the pressure for the home team.
Two days after a quarterfinal exit in the parallel team event, Venier sent Austrians into party mode.
“It’s just amazing in front of the home crowd," she said. "Nothing can beat this.”
She was the 2013 junior world champion in super-G but a silver in downhill from the 2017 worlds was her only medal in a senior race before Thursday’s triumph.
“I am a different Steffi now, grown up, more experienced,” said Venier, a three-time winner on the World Cup circuit who is a passionate golf player and is nicknamed ‘Aunt Gucci’ for collecting designer handbags.
“Every handbag tells the story of a certain part or happening in my life,” she said.
Austria entered its worlds with zero wins on the men’s World Cup this season, and two on the women’s side, both by Cornelia Huetter in speed races in December.
But the worlds on home snow are a different story, said Christian Scherer, CEO of the Austrian ski federation. More than 14,000 spectators gathered in the small Alpine village near Salzburg and even more are expected for the marquee downhill races this weekend.
“The world championships have their own rules and laws,” Scherer said. “This potentially will be a kind of breakthrough and we’re going to be more on the podium than during the season. So it’s taking the pressure off of it, definitely, which is important.”
Federica Brignone of Italy was 0.10 seconds behind Venier for the silver medal, and Lauren Macuga of the United States and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway shared bronzes, 0.24 off the lead.
Macuga continued her breakout season by medaling in her maiden start at a major event, after posting the fastest first-split time. Macuga won her first career World Cup last month in a super-G at another Austrian ski resort, St. Anton.
“I knew I could do it and I just had to go out and put everything out there,” Macuga said. “I mean, it's a medal or nothing.”
On a course set by U.S. ski team coach Alex Hoedlmoser, Vonn hooked a gate with her right arm about 25 seconds into her run and stopped her run.
“I am OK, I hit my nerve somehow and I hit the gate and lost feeling in my arm but it's coming back slowly,” Vonn said after her first appearance at the worlds in six years.
The American said a day before the race she was feeling sick with a cold or flu.
She skied down to the finish after the accident and waved to the crowd, then stayed out to join American teammate Macuga in the medal celebrations.
“I am really excited for Lauren, she skied amazing, I'm really proud of her,” said Vonn, an eight-time worlds medalist and the 2010 Olympic downhill champion.
Vonn retired in 2019 after winning bronze in downhill in Are, Sweden, following several injuries, but returned to the circuit this season with a new titanium right knee.
Mikaela Shiffrin is coming back from abdominal surgery in December and plans to start only the giant slalom and slalom next week.
Silver medalist Brignone’s teammate and fellow pre-race gold favorite Sofia Goggia lost time on Venier at all splits except at the bottom and missed the podium by six-hundredths in fifth.
Lara Gut-Behrami, who leads the World Cup super-G standings this season, was slowed by a similar incident to Vonn's and finished 0.70 behind in eighth.
The worlds ended abruptly for Ricarda Haaser, who fell and tore the ACL and inner meniscus in her right knee. She was set to undergo surgery later Thursday, the Austrian ski federation said.
Thursday's opening individual race at the worlds took place exactly one year before the 2026 opening ceremony for the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The next event is the men's super-G on Friday.
AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
United States' Lindsey Vonn arrives at the finish area after crashing during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn arrives at the finish area after crashing during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
United States' Lindsey Vonn arrives at the finish area after crashing during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier, second from left, winner of a women's Super-G, celebrates on the podium with second-placed Italy's Federica Brignone, left, and joint third-placed Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, second from right, and United States' Lauren Macuga, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier celebrates on the podium after winning a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. At right is third-placed Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
United States' Lindsey Vonn at the race inspection ahead of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Norway's Kajsa Vickhoff Lie speeds down the course during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States' Lauren Macuga speeds down the course during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
United States' Lauren Macuga celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stephanie Venier speeds down the course during a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Austria's Stephanie Venier celebrates at the finish area of a women's Super-G, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
ISTANBUL (AP) — The head of Turkey's main opposition party visited jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Tuesday after six nights of massive protests calling for his release.
Imamoglu, arrested on March 19 on corruption charges, is seen as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 22-year rule. His arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated and sparked demonstrations, some turning violent, across the country. The government insists Turkey’s judiciary is independent and free of political influence.
Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Imamoglu's Republican People’s Party, or CHP, arrived at Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, in a convoy of vehicles Tuesday morning.
After a two-hour meeting, Ozel told reporters that he was “ashamed on behalf of those who govern Turkey of the atmosphere I am in and the situation that Turkey is being put through.”
He described Imamoglu and two jailed CHP district mayors he also met as “three lions inside, standing tall, with their heads held high … proud of themselves, their families, their colleagues, not afraid.”
Ozel announced the night before that Tuesday evening would be CHP's final rally outside Istanbul’s City Hall, calling for people to join in. He also said the party would appoint a member to the municipal council to act as mayor in Imamoglu's place, staving off the possibility of a state-appointed replacement.
Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have been cracking down on journalists as protests have grown.
The Media and Law Studies Association, a civil society group, said eight journalists who were detained “for covering protests in Istanbul,” banned by authorities, had been brought to the city’s Caglayan Courthouse. They are accused of “violating the law on meetings and demonstrations," the group said.
The journalists were among 206 people prosecutors have recommended for imprisonment pending trial in relation to the protests, including left-wing activists rounded up at their homes in raids early on Monday.
Media workers’ unions have condemned the arrests as an “attack on press freedoms and the people’s right to learn the truth.”
Meanwhile, the head of the CHP's Istanbul branch, Ozgur Celik, shared a letter he had received from the prosecutor’s office ordering the removal of poster of Imamoglu. He said he would not comply.
“You will see more of Mayor Ekrem on the balconies of houses, in squares, on the streets and on the walls,” Celik posted on X.
Demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as smaller cities and towns across Turkey, have been largely peaceful with protesters demanding Imamoglu’s release and an end to democratic backsliding. However, some turned violent, with officers deploying water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray and firing plastic pellets at protesters, some of whom have hurled stones, fireworks and other objects at riot police.
The governors of Ankara and Izmir on Tuesday extended bans on demonstrations to April 1 and March 29 respectively. The ban in Istanbul currently runs to March 27.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said early Tuesday that police had detained 43 “provocateurs” over what he said were “vile insults” hurled at Erdogan and his family at protests. Some 1,133 protesters were detained between Wednesday and Sunday, he said earlier.
Ozel and Imamoglu's social media accounts posted condemnations of insults hurled at Erdogan's mother.
Imamoglu has been jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging — accusations he has denied. He also faces prosecution on terror-related charges and has been suspended from duty as a “temporary measure.”
Alongside Imamoglu, 47 other people have been jailed pending trial, including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul. A further 44 suspects in the case alleging widespread graft at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality were released under judicial control.
Although Turkey is not due for another election until 2028, there is a reasonable possibility that Erdogan will call for an early vote in order to run for another term.
Imamoglu has been confirmed as the candidate for the CHP and has performed well in recent polls against Erdogan. He was elected mayor of Turkey’s largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul alongside its predecessors for a quarter-century.
University students sit next to anti riot police officers during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Huseyin Aldemir)
Riot police fire tear gas pellets to disperse protesters in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 24, 2025, during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
People shout slogans next to anti riot police officers during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)