Kostelic conquers illness, slalom

SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA, Italy – Sick, weak and gasping for breath, Janica Kostelic wanted nothing more than to leave the slope and crawl into bed.

While she recuperates she can take comfort in this: She is the first woman in 23 years to sweep three ski titles at a world championships.

Kostelic won the slalom Friday to add to her downhill and combined titles from last week. The Croat skipped the giant slalom this week because of a high fever and cough.

After her latest victory, she doubled over and cooled her forehead with snow before being helped away by team officials.

“I’m ill and want only to go to bed,” she said. “I have no more strength. I’m lucky. I won everything I raced. Becoming part of skiing’s history evokes unforgettable feelings. But it was tough.”

Kostelic was third after the opening leg but produced a sizzling second run to successfully defend her title and match the three golds at the worlds by Switzerland’s Erika Hess (slalom, giant slalom, combined) in 1982 in Schladming, Austria. Kostelic also won three golds at the 2002 Olympics (slalom, giant slalom, combined).

On Friday, she was extraordinary in finishing in 1 minute, 47.98 seconds. Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen, the leader after the opening leg, placed second in 1:48.16 for her second silver medal of the worlds following the giant slalom.

Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic won the bronze in 1:48.65 on her 20th birthday, giving her country its first world championship medal.

Americans Resi Stiegler, Sarah Schleper and Julia Mancuso finished sixth through eighth. Mancuso already has won two bronze medals.

Swedish star Anja Paerson, the reigning overall World Cup champion, was second-fastest in the opening leg but skied off course during her second trip.