"Four years ago at Beijing 2022, Daniela Maier of Germany and Fanny Smith of Switzerland were the unwilling protagonists of a convoluted medal dispute. Smith had crossed the finish line in third ahead of Maier in fourth. But the race jury flipped the result after ruling Smith had interfered with Maier, despite both skiers disagreeing. Smith appealed against the jury's decision to the court of arbitration for sport (Cas), which overruled the officials' decision and deemed that bronze medals should be awarded to both skiers."
"On Friday they did not need a courtroom to decide their fate. In a high-octane final featuring the top four women in the World Cup standings, Maier seized an early lead and never looked back. She protected her line with veteran precision, crossing the finish to claim her first Olympic gold. Right behind her was Smith, claiming silver and an Olympic-record third ski cross medal."
"Reflecting on the 2022 legal battle, Maier noted that the ordeal actually transformed them from rivals into training partners and close friends. Foes to friends: Fanny Smith of Switzerland and Daniela Maier of Germany pose with their medals after the women's ski cross. Photograph: Patrick Smith/Getty Images It's so nice because this story made us a good team, Maier said. We [came] together and [became] good friends. We like to train with each other."
At Beijing 2022 Fanny Smith crossed third ahead of Daniela Maier but officials ruled Smith had interfered, prompting Smith to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which awarded bronze medals to both athletes. In Milano Cortina Maier seized an early lead in the high-octane final, protected her line, and won her first Olympic gold while Smith finished second to claim silver and an Olympic-record third ski cross medal. The prior legal battle forged solidarity; Maier and Smith became training partners and close friends who now share podium success. Smith described the silver as personal catharsis after losing trust in freeski officials.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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