Sara Hector Secures Third Podium in Kronplatz World Cup, Boosting Olympic Hopes

Sara Hector demonstrated her strong season form once again at the World Cup storslalom event in Kronplatz, Italy, securing her third podium finish ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. After leading the first run with a time of 1:13.54, Hector held a 0.15-second advantage over Swiss skier Camilla Rast. Despite her lead, she finished third overall, 0.46 seconds behind Austria's Julia Scheib, who won the race.

This competition is a critical stepping stone in Hector's Olympic preparation, with the Winter Games set to begin in Milan-Cortina on February 15. The Kronplatz venue holds significant meaning for Hector, as she won there prior to her last Olympic gold medal victory.

Notably, Hector's narrow podium miss two weeks ago—falling just 0.03 seconds behind American Paula Moltzan—highlights her consistent competitiveness this season. Other Swedish skiers, Estelle Alphand and Hilma Loveblom, also qualified for the second run in Kronplatz, finishing 23rd and 30th respectively.

Expert commentator Frida Hansdotter Jansson praised Hector on the Viaplay broadcast, recognizing her strong performance indicative of her Olympic ambitions. With the Olympic opening less than a month away, Hector's return to the podium underscores her potential as a strong medal contender for Sweden in Milan-Cortina.