Less than 24 hours after winning the alpine combined bronze medal on her birthday, Leonie Flötgen of Germany won her second medal at the 2023 FISU World University Games in Lake Placid on Tuesday, only this time in the women’s giant slalom… and in the brightest color of all!

Flötgen won the women’s giant slalom on Whiteface Mountain the day after she turned 23, giving her “the happiest belated birthday present in [my] lifetime!”

“Maybe it’s the trick that I’m faster at 23,” she laughed at the steady increase in scores over the last three days.

Flötgen’s belated birthday was well celebrated and the entire German delegation gave their FISU champion a well-deserved champagne shower right after the race, laughing and smiling.

The day started for the giant slalom specialist in the best possible way, with a breathtaking first run in the morning, when she was the only one to score under 1:04. The German UAS Gesundheit und Sport Berlin University student mastered the pressure of starting from last place in heat two, beating both the stopwatch and the competition to finish with a combined time of 2:07.04.

Behind Flötgen with the second best overall time of 2:07.18 was teammate Fabian Dorigo, who won the super-G on Saturday. Although both girls compete on the slopes, they are first and foremost longtime friends.

“We’ve known each other since we were 12 years old. I couldn’t wish for a better time than sharing this podium here with my best friend,” said Flötgen.

The podium was completed by Sweden’s Emma Hammergaard (2:07.76).

With two medals in just three events, Dorigo and Flötgen will surely have favorite status until the end of the FISU Games. On Thursday they will compete in the mixed team, which Dorigo had in mind at the end of the slalom race.

“We’re really looking forward to it. Leonie and I will be racing and we also have some fast boys. So watch out for the Germans!”

Written by Louis Gilles, a young FISU reporter

We would like to thank the official partner of FISU, Qiaodan Ltd., which has been providing outstanding uniforms to the FISU family and international technical officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continues to provide support during postponing events due to the global pandemic and recently extended its cooperation with FISU to and including 2025.