Winning Women of Salomon, 4 Salomon Athletes Win Gold at World Championships in February
It started with a high-speed win in the French Alps at the World Alpine Ski Championships and culminated with two more victories in Bakuriani, Georgia at the FIS Freestyle World Championships. In between, there were victories at the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Germany and more winning at the Nordic World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. February was a monthlong victory party for the female athletes of Salomon. Four women from four different countries in four different ski disciplines were crowned world champions, with Marta Bassino (Italy), Julia Simon (France), Jessie Diggins (USA) and Sandra Naeslund (Sweden) all winning gold at their respective World Championships.
Sandra Naeslund earns two World Championships gold medals on the same day The most recent addition to the Salomon’s list of World Championship winning women is no stranger to the top of the podium. Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund came into the FIS Freestyle World Championships as the heavy favorite to win the Ski Cross title that was up for grabs. Faced with strong winds, challenging course conditions, and a painful waiting game, the race finally took place under blue skies and with only a hint of wind. The pressure of expectations and the weather delays did nothing to deter the World Cup-leading Naeslund. She took gold in the single event to win her third career World Championship title, and helped her team to victory in the first-ever World Championships mixed team event to earn a second gold medal.
Marta Bassino Claims Super G World Championships Gold Italian skier and Salomon athlete Marta Bassino kicked off the month of winning by putting on a dominant performance to capture the gold medal in the Super G at the FIS World Alpine Ski Championships in Courchevel/Meribel, France. The victory was Bassino's first gold medal at the World Championships and further established her as one of the top skiers in the world.The 25-year-old, who won the Giant Slalom World Cup Crystal Globe in 2021, held back on the top section and then mastered the course's tricky, technical lower half—a strategy that clearly suited her.
“"I'm so excited because it was really hard to watch all the girls after me because I lost a lot of time on the first part, but then I think I did really great in the last part,” said Bassino, who won the parallel slalom gold two years ago. “It's still a little bit unbelievable.” ”
Marta Bassino
Skiers
Jessie Diggins Wins Nordic World Championship Gold
Salomon athlete Jessie Diggins also joined the Salomon victory parade, writing her her name into the history books again by winning her first individual gold medal in the women's 10km individual start at the Nordic Skiing World Championships. With the win, she also became the first American Nordic skier to win an individual gold medal at the World championships. Diggins, who has used Salomon skis and boots for her entire professional career, arrived in Planica (Slovenia) with high expectations and a clear focus on the 10km skate. After winning a bronze medal in the team sprint with teammate Julia Kern, all the lights were green for the glitter-faced Minnesota native in the 10k.
"That was so emotional, that was amazing,” Diggins said. “I've just got to say thank you to the team. That was one of the best races of my whole life and I knew I felt good, and I was in a good shape, but you also have to have great skis and good wax, and I had everything I needed today. The team worked so hard to make this possible. I'm just so happy."
Jessie Diggins
Cross-country skiers
Diggins relied on Salomon S/LAB skate skis and boots to win her world champion title; the same equipment everyday skiers can buy at their specialist ski shop.
Julia Simon Wins Pursuit Gold at Biathlon World Championships
French biathlete Julia Simon proved her consistency and versatility across a variety of race formats over the two weeks of competition at the Biathlon world Championships in Oberhof, Germany. She added another win for Team Salomon in the 12.5km Pursuit event, and also picked up two bronze medals in the 15km Mass Start and Mixed Relay events.
After some ups and downs last season, the native from les Saisies adds an individual title to her accolades after the single mixed relay together with Antonin Guigonnat in Pokljuka 2021.
Salomon Women Also Notch wins on the Trail in February
Not all the Salomon women winning in February were on snow. In trail running, Australia’s Lucy Bartholomew won the Tarawa Ultramarathon by UTMB® in New Zealand in record-breaking time. Meanwhile, in late February, American ultra-running star Courtney Dauwalter traveled to Spain’s Canary Islands and won the Transgrancanaria 128K race by two hours, kicking off her 2023 season the same way 2022 went.