Croatian ski sensation Zrinka Ljutić gets first World Cup victory

Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutić has claimed her first FIS Alpine Ski World Cup victory with first place in the Semmering slalom on Sunday in Austria.

After an excellent first run, which she finished as the leader, the Zagreb native delivered another superb performance in the second run, ultimately securing victory with an impressive 1.75-second advantage over Germany’s Lena Dürr. Austria’s Katharina Liensberger finished in third place.

A Career-Best Result

This season, Ljutić has consistently placed among the top ten in slalom events. She finished sixth in Levi, ninth in Gurgl, and sixth again in Killington.

She has stood on the slalom podium four times in her career, three of which were earlier this year in last season’s races in Jasná, Soldeu, and Åre, where she finished second each time.

This victory marks her first career win and the first for Croatian women’s skiing in over 18 years, since Janica Kostelić’s triumphs.

Earlier this year, she achieved a second-place finish in the World Cup Giant Slalom held in Slovakia.

Ljutić has already made a lasting impression on Croatian skiing. Representing the Croatian ski club Žuti Mačak from Zagreb, she clinched a historic gold medal at the Junior World Championships in Canada in 2022.

This victory was a remarkable personal accomplishment and a groundbreaking moment for Croatian skiing, as it was the first-ever gold medal secured by a Croatian woman at the FIS World Junior Championships.