Switzerland’s Heinzer Finally Breaks Through

Switzerland’s Franz Heinzer, who barely missed a medal in three previous attempts, won the men’s downhill at the World Alpine Skiing Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, on Sunday by a quarter of a second over Peter Runggaldier of Italy.

“I’ve been fourth three times in the world championships, and it’s absolutely marvelous that I won today,” Heinzer said. “It’s a wonderful feeling.”

Heinzer covered the course in 1:54.91 seconds, and Runggaldier finished in 1:55.16. Daniel Mahrer of Switzerland was third in 1:55.57.

Heinzer had finished fourth in the downhill in 1982, 1985 and 1987.

“My aim today was just to get a medal and not to be fourth again,” he said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would win the gold medal.

“When I went to the start, I thought today either I would be fast or I would fall. I was ready to race all out, to take risks.”

Heinzer, 28, had some difficulty at the start, where eight tight turns threw many racers off balance. But he made up time toward the bottom of the 2,990-meter course.

Runggaldier, 22, the first Italian to win a world championship downhill medal since Zeno Colo in 1950, said Heinzer was too fast in the final part of the course.

“I skied very well at the top, which was the toughest part,” Runggaldier said. “I lost time to Heinzer in the flat part at the end because he is better at gliding.”

A.J. Kitt was the top American with a time of 1:57.36, good for 20th.