Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during the women’s super G at the World Cup Finals in Courchevel, France, on Thursday. Marco Trovati/Associated Press
SKIING
Mikaela Shiffrin won skiing’s overall World Cup title for the fourth time on Thursday, fueled by speed races that turned her expected duel with Petra Vlhová into a runaway success at Courchevel, France.
Shiffrin finished second in the super-G at the World Cup Finals – one day after a surprise victory in the downhill.
Vlhová had to finish no worse than seventh to stop Shiffrin from clinching the title before their specialty slalom and giant slalom races left over the weekend, but she finished 17th.
Shiffrin sat in the snow watching her rival’s run, shielding her eyes behind sunglasses, and smiled in her moment of victory. Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway won the race and was the first to greet Shiffrin with a long hug.
Shiffrin earned her fourth giant crystal globe trophy after winning three straight overall titles from 2017-19, and one month after struggling at the Beijing Olympics.
American skier Lindsey Vonn also won four overall titles, trailing behind only Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Pröll’s six titles in the 1970s.
Shiffrin finished 0.05 seconds behind Mowinckel. Michelle Gisin of Switzerland was third, 0.13 behind.
• Vincent Kriechmayr won the men’s super-G at the World Cup Finals, one day after his downhill victory on the same Eclipse course in Courchevel that will stage the men’s races at the 2023 skiing world championships.
Kriechmayr earned his 12th career victory, beating Marco Odermatt by 0.53 seconds. Odematt, the overall World Cup champion from Switzerland, who was also runner-up in downhill. Swiss teammate Gino Caviezel was third, 0.75 behind.
BASKETBALL
WNBA: Russian media reported that the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner was extended until May 19, a development that could see the two-time Olympic champion being held for at least three months before her case is resolved.
Griner was detained at a Moscow airport, reportedly in mid-February, after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The case of the 31-year-old Griner, one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
GOLF
PGA: Sam Burns shot a 7-under 64 in Palm Harbor, Florida, for a share of the lead in the Valspar Championship – his first time as defending champion on the PGA Tour.
Burns was tied with another with past champion, Adam Hadwin, as well as David Lipsky and Jhonattan Vegas.
Danny Lee was among four players at 65, Justin Thomas was another shot back, and Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka led a large group at 67.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Big-hitting South African James Hart du Preez carded a 9-under 63 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Steyn City Championship in Johannesburg.
Du Preez raised the prospect of a 59 when he was 11 under with two holes to play but finished with two bogeys. He was one shot ahead of compatriots Jaco Ahlers and Shaun Norris and Italy’s Nino Bertasio.
SOCCER
WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: Forwards Gio Reyna and Jordan Pefok and goalkeeper Ethan Horvath are back on the U.S. team for the first time since September, among eight additions on the 27-man roster announced for the final three World Cup qualifiers that start next week.
Three players missed out because of injuries: midfielder Weston McKennie (broken foot); defender Chris Richards (ankle); and goalkeeper Matt Turner (foot/ankle).
Seeking to return to the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the U.S. is at Mexico on March 24, hosts Panama three days later at Orlando, Florida, and closes at Costa Rica on March 30.
Canada leads North and Central America and the Caribbean with 25 points and the U.S. is second with 21, ahead of Mexico on goal difference. Panama is fourth with 17 points, followed by Costa Rica with 16.
The top three nations earn berths for this year’s tournament in Qatar and the fourth-place nation advances to a playoff in June against the Oceania champion, likely New Zealand.
PREMIER LEAGUE: Deadline day is Friday for bids to be submitted to buy Chelsea and end the 19-year ownership of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
This is a sale enforced on the oligarch after he was sanctioned by the British government for his close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.
AUTO RACING
FORMULA ONE: Sebastian Vettel will miss the season-opening Formula One race in Bahrain this weekend after testing positive for the coronavirus and will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg, the Aston Martin team said.
Hulkenberg lost his seat in F1 at the end of the 2019 season, but he competed in two races in 2020 as a replacement for other drivers.
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