Girardelli Scores Golden Oldie With His Victory in Combined

Luxembourg’s Marc Girardelli, the old man of world skiing, touched off a middle-age comeback by winning the men’s combined at the World Championships on Wednesday.

The gold medal for Girardelli, 32, was his 13th in either the Olympics or World Championships, and the combined victory was his third in the worlds. He has won a medal in the last six worlds and retirement isn’t in sight.

Girardelli--the oldest regular skier on the World Cup circuit--won the combined in 3 minutes 31.95 seconds.

“Nobody else has offered me another job so far, so I have to continue,” Girardelli said.

Olympic champion Lasse Kjus of Norway was second in 3:32.20, and Austria’s Guenther Mader third in 3:32.93.

Girardelli isn’t winning like he used to, although he showed his all-around talent again Wednesday.

“I think it’s a little too early to say I’m back,” he said. “I’m better than before, but I’m not back.”

The gold was Girardelli’s fourth in a world championships.