Kostelic sets sights on World Cup

HAFJELL, Norway – After illness cut short her record-breaking Olympics, Janica Kostelic is ready to return for the final World Cup races of the season.

The 24-year-old Croatian withdrew because of the flu after her win in the combined made her the most successful female skier in Olympic history with four career golds.

Kostelic leads two-time defending World Cup overall champion Anja Paerson by 261 points in the overall standings ahead of today’s races at Hafjell. Nine races remain, with wins worth 100 points.

While Kostelic’s health has improved, Paerson’s Olympic schedule of six races in nine days took its toll. The Swede, who edged Kostelic by three points for the overall title last season, is bothered by an aching knee.

After resting a few days in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, Paerson flew to Norway where she practiced the super-G on Wednesday at nearby Kvitfjell, the men’s Olympic alpine site. On Thursday, she worked out at Hafjell, where today’s super-G will be held.

“The course is good and she skied well,” said Anders Paerson, her father and coach. “Her knee is still hurting a bit, but I didn’t dare to ask her about the knee because she is so tired of talking about it.”

Paerson, who won a gold in the slalom and bronze medals in the downhill and the combined at Turin, Italy, might skip some races.

“We’ll see how she handles the pain,” Anders Paerson said. “It’s day-to-day, but we hope she can race all three events here in Norway. If there’s more pain, she could skip next weekend’s races in Finland and prepare for the World Cup finals in Sweden.”

The finals are March 15-19 at Are, Scandinavia’s leading ski resort. The downhill will be held on Are’s new downhill course built for the World Alpine Ski Championships next year.

With only two races left, Paerson can clinch the GS title by finishing ahead of Spain’s Maria Jose Rienda at Hafjell, the site of events at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.

Austrian veteran Michaela Dorfmeister, who is retiring after the World Cup finals, is third in the overall standings. She is 320 points behind the leader and in contention for the title.

Dorfmeister is confident after capturing the Olympic downhill and super-G golds.

She has already clinched the World Cup downhill title and leads the super G standings by 50 points, ahead of teammate Alexandra Meissnitzer, with two races left.

Other races scheduled this weekend include a super combined Saturday and a giant slalom Sunday.