Polish skier Maryna Gąsienica-Daniel delivered a career-best performance Sunday, finishing fifth in the giant slalom at Semmering, Austria. The 27-year-old Zakopane native, competing in her 146th World Cup start, surged from 12th after the first run to nearly challenge for the podium. The result marks a meaningful milestone for Polish skiing, representing the nation’s first top-five finish in a World Cup event in a quarter-century.
Maryna Gąsienica-Daniel achieved the best result of her career on Sunday, finishing fifth in the giant slalom at Semmering, Austria. The Polish skier surged from 12th place after the first run to challenge for a podium finish in a thrilling competition.
Gąsienica-Daniel Delivers Career Performance in Austria
Gąsienica-Daniel’s impressive performance saw her finish ahead of even World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin. While a podium finish ultimately eluded her, Julia Scheib of Austria and Sara Hector held on to their top-three positions. Scheib took first place to the delight of the home crowd, followed closely by Switzerland’s Camille Rast, 0.14 seconds behind. Hector secured third, finishing 0.40 seconds off the pace.
Gąsienica-Daniel finished just 1.36 seconds behind the winner, marking a significant breakthrough in her World Cup career. This result is a testament to her skill and consistency on the slopes.
This marks the first time Gąsienica-Daniel has broken into the top five in a World Cup event, and her first top-ten finish since a giant slalom in Andorra in March 2023.
A Historic Result for Polish Skiing
According to TVP Sport journalist Jakub Pobożniak, Gąsienica-Daniel’s fifth-place finish represents the first time a Polish skier has placed in the top five of a World Cup event in 25 years. The previous best result by a Polish athlete came in 1999 when Andrzej Bachleda-Curuś achieved a top finish in Wengen.
Prior to this competition, Gąsienica-Daniel’s best World Cup result was a sixth-place finish, a position she had achieved four times. Now, she’s proven she can contend with the world’s best and challenge for a spot on the podium.
