VAIL, Colo. -- It was a hug that said everything.
Picabo Street, who came back from oblivion to win an Olympic gold medal, threw her arms around Alexandra Meissnitzer to mark the occasion of the Austrian's return from her own trek through the doldrums.After an off year in 1997, Meissnitzer began to regain form in 1998, and this year is on the verge of becoming the sport's dominant woman.
She took a huge step Wednesday by winning the super-G, the first women's event of the World Alpine Ski Championships.
There in the finish area to congratulate her was Street, who overcame a year of inactivity to win the super-G in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Meissnitzer earned her first medal in three World Championships by negotiating Vail's International course in 1 minute, 20.53 seconds to pace an Austrian sweep. It was just .03 seconds back to Renate Goetschl and .21 to Michaela Dorfmeister.
The sweep gave Austria five of the six medals awarded so far in the championships. Hermann Maier shared the gold with Norway's Lasse Kjus in the men's super-G on Tuesday, with Hans Knauss claiming third.
Street, out this season with severe injuries to both legs suffered in a post-Olympics race, plunged through a crowd to hug Meissnitzer. They became friends after sharing a podium at St. Anton, Austria, in 1996, and Meissnitzer spent the summer with Street after the season.
The top American, also victim of a bad back, was Kate Monahan of Aspen, Colo., 23rd in 1:22.90.
Jonna Mendes of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., was 26th in the field of 43 in 1:23.23, and Caroline Lalive of Steamboat Springs, Calif., was 28th, 2.73 back of the winner.
Megan Gerety of Anchorage, Alaska, missed a gate near the bottom and failed to finsh.