MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Croatia's slalom world champion Ivica Kostelic made up six places to win a men's slalom Monday night, despite a badly injured right knee.
Kostelic was sixth after the opening leg before delivering a sizzling second effort on the floodlit Canalone Miramonte course -- despite feeling his knee snap midway down -- for a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 33.26 seconds and his seventh World Cup victory in the discipline.
Kostelic injured his knee midway down the slope but continued on and completed the run in remarkable fashion, posting the second-fastest time.
As he crossed the finish gate into the team area, Kostelic collapsed, grimacing and grasping his knee in pain. Although he was later able to stand, he had to be assisted onto the winner's podium.
