Double ski cross gold for Sweden at World Champs

Sandra Naeslund, 20, confirmed once and for all that she has a huge future in the sport by clinching the ladies crown, while compatriot Victor Oehling Norberg did likewise in the men’s.

It was a maiden world title for both Swedes as pre-championship favourites Marielle Thompson of Canada and Jean Frederic Chapuis of France failed to medal.

Thompson, who finished a mammoth 175 points ahead of second-placed Naeslund en route to the ski cross overall World Cup title, failed to make the final in Sierra Nevada and had to settle for winning the small final to take fifth.

In the big final, Naeslund held off Fanny Smith of Switzerland to cross the line in first place as 40-year-old Ophelie David clinched a fifth World Championship medal of her career by taking bronze, with Germany’s Heidi Zacher narrowly missing out on a podium spot.

In the men’s event, three-time crystal globe winner and 2013 world champion Chapuis crashed out early, leaving the competition wide open.

And Oehling Norberg – who finished 17th in the final overall World Cup standings this season – took advantage to claim the biggest victory of his career.

He held his nerve in a tense final to push Jamie Prebble of Australia into silver and Frenchman Francois Place into bronze, with Slovenia’s Filip Flisar coming fourth.

Sportsbeat 2017