Italy's Federica Brignone put in a dominant display to win gold in the women's giant slalom at the Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Thursday. Brignone, second in the super-G a week ago, led after the first run,

Italian Federica Brignone will go into a home Olympics as a reigning world champion, while Minnesotan Paula Moltzan is a first-time individual world medalist, 12-plus years after her debut at ski racing's highest level.

“This was my dream, to be a gold medalist in GS. I have been dreaming of this moment for many, many years. I was always second,” said Brignone, who won GS silver at the worlds in 2011 and 2023. “This is just one of the best days of my life.”