American skier Mikaela Shiffrin won the gold medal in the women’s giant slalom at the world championships.

Overall women’s World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin has held on to a big opening-run advantage to win a giant slalom.

Swedish skier Sara Hector held on to her first-run lead and beat Mikaela Shiffrin in a women’s World Cup giant slalom.

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin reacts at finish area after completing an alpine ski women's World Cup giant slalom in Courchevel, France, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)COURCHEVEL – An emotional Mikaela Shiffrin won her first World Cup ski race since the death of her father nearly a year ago. Shiffrin protected her first-run lead in Monday's giant slalom and finished 0.82 seconds ahead of Federica Brignone. The American skier was at first subdued after crossing the line and seeing she had secured her 67th World Cup win. Shiffrin tied Marcel Hirscher for third on the all-time World Cup win list, trailing only Lindsey Vonn with 82 and Ingemar Stenmark with 86.