Travis Ganong Finally Claims World Cup Skiing Podium Spot
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by Alex Abrams
Travis Ganong celebrates taking third in the men's super G during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup on Dec. 3, 2021 in Beaver Creek, Colo.
Travis Ganong wanted to savor the moment, and he celebrated it by holding up a ski while teammates crowded around him.
Ganong made the podium for the first time at a men’s super G world cup Friday, racing to a bronze medal with a time of 1 minute, 10.63 seconds at the Xfinity Birds of Prey competition in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Ganong’s time was only 0.37 seconds off of Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the 2019-20 overall World Cup champion who earned the gold at 1:10.26. Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt took the silver at 1:10.29.
“What a day! And what a team. Thanks guys,” Ganong wrote on Instagram. “So stoked to climb back on the podium.”
Gangong, a 2014 Olympian, made the podium for the first time in his 160th world cup start.
He got off to a fast start, raced down the course and received a loud cheer from the hometown crowd as soon as he crossed the finish line.
Ganong failed to make the podium Saturday, finishing 24th in the downhill race after posting a time of 1:41.67 — 2.04 second behind Kilde. Kilde, who has returned to form after recovering from a torn knee ligament less than a year ago, won his second gold of the weekend at 1:39.63.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the top American performer Saturday with a sixth-place finish at 1:40.87.
Strong winds led to Sunday’s downhill competition getting canceled.
Alex Abrams #
Alex Abrams has written about Olympic and Paralympic sports for more than 15 years, including as a reporter for major newspapers in Florida, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
