Zrinka Ljutić edges closer to World Cup slalom crown

(Photo credit: Erich Spiess / Red Bull Content Pool)

Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutić has taken the lead in the the FIS Ski World Cup slalom standings after a second place finish on Sunday.

The 20-year-old from Zagreb claimed a brilliant second place in the World Cup slalom at the Italian resort of Sestriere.

With this fantastic result, she’s not only added another podium finish to her growing list of achievements but also taken the lead in the world slalom rankings.

Zrinka, known for her fearless style and razor-sharp precision, finished just 61 hundredths of a second behind American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, who took first place to mark her 100th World Cup win.

Zrinka’s time was strong enough to secure second, beating out a talented field that included Paula Moltzan from the USA, who finished third.

This podium finish is Zrinka’s ninth in her World Cup career. After her second-place result, she now sits atop the slalom standings with 489 points, overtaking the world’s best to claim the coveted red leader’s bib.

In the overall World Cup rankings, she’s climbed to third place—a remarkable feat for the young skier.

Zrinka has already clinched three slalom victories—Semmering in Austria, Kranjska Gora in Slovenia, and Courchevel in France.

The Croatian Olympic Committee was quick to celebrate her success, posting online: “Zrinka Ljutić was second in Sestriere, her ninth World Cup podium. Our Olympian has taken the lead in the slalom discipline and is third overall. Bravo!”