Canberra’s Laura Peel has become the first Australian to win two aerial skiing world championships after picking up her second title in Kazakhstan on Wednesday night, 10 March.
The 31-year-old won her first title in 2015 and was too good for her competition again this year, posting a score of 106.46, well clear of second-placed American Ashley Caldwell’s 101.47.
Russian Liubov Nikitina took bronze while fellow Australian Danielle Scott came fourth, making a brilliant comeback from a serious knee injury.
Sitting third after qualification, Peel delved deep into her bag of tricks and pulled out a move she had used just once before in competition.
She risked it all with a highly difficult Back Full-Full-Full jump in the superfinal and nailed the move to secure victory.
Peel was elated with her performance and said it was a sweet victory.
“My qualification jumps weren’t my best but I saved my best for the final,” said Peel.
“It’s only the second time I’ve completed that jump and I’m so happy to put it down.
“The second time (winning the world title) feels even better.”
The two-time Olympian finished 7th at the 2014 Games in Sochi and 5th in 2018 in PyeongChang but will now be one of the favourites heading into the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Peel-ing off a slice of history
Three other Australian women have won the aerial skiing world championships, Kristie Marshall (1997), Jacqui Cooper (1999) and Alisa Camplin (2003), however Laura Peel (2015, 2021) becomes the first Aussie to do it twice. China’s Li Nina is the only other female to win multiple aerial skiing world championships, claiming three consecutive titles in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
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