Lara Gut is looking to seal a memorable ski season in front of her home fans at the World Cup finals in St. Moritz.
Lara Gut is looking to seal a memorable ski season in front of her home fans at the World Cup finals in St. Moritz.
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She won her first World Cup race at the age of 17, and now the 24-year-old has effectively sealed a first overall title.
She won her first World Cup race at the age of 17, and now the 24-year-old has effectively sealed a first overall title.
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Gut boasts six victories to date this season on the World Cup circuit, having battled for the lead with American Lindsey Vonn.
Gut boasts six victories to date this season on the World Cup circuit, having battled for the lead with American Lindsey Vonn.
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Vonn's season ended when she injured her leg, allowing her Swiss rival to reclaim first place.
Vonn's season ended when she injured her leg, allowing her Swiss rival to reclaim first place.
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Gut enjoys closer ties with last year's overall winner Anna Fenninger, the Austrian who is sitting out this season because of injury.
Gut enjoys closer ties with last year's overall winner Anna Fenninger, the Austrian who is sitting out this season because of injury.
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A four-time world championship medalist, Gut also won a downhill bronze at the last Winter Olympics in 2014.
A four-time world championship medalist, Gut also won a downhill bronze at the last Winter Olympics in 2014.
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For too long, Gut has been in the shadows, on the cusp of hitting the big time in alpine skiing.
For too long, Gut has been in the shadows, on the cusp of hitting the big time in alpine skiing.
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But after a stunning start to the 2014 season, in which she finished third in the overall standings, she says her outlook changed.
But after a stunning start to the 2014 season, in which she finished third in the overall standings, she says her outlook changed.
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This season she appears to have been a skier reborn, and claims this is the best she has ever felt on the slopes.
This season she appears to have been a skier reborn, and claims this is the best she has ever felt on the slopes.
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Gut told CNN she has learned from her early career, when she struggled to cope with the demands brought by her success on the slopes.
Gut told CNN she has learned from her early career, when she struggled to cope with the demands brought by her success on the slopes.
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Gut says her main goal is to enjoy skiing -- and the results will follow.
Gut says her main goal is to enjoy skiing -- and the results will follow.
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Gut can count on major support from her family: her mother organizes sponsors, her dad is her coach, and her younger brother doubles as best friend and skiing partner.
Gut can count on major support from her family: her mother organizes sponsors, her dad is her coach, and her younger brother doubles as best friend and skiing partner.
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But Gut admits it is hard for her family to watch when she crashes in her high-speed races.
But Gut admits it is hard for her family to watch when she crashes in her high-speed races.
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Gut missed the 2010 Olympics after suffering a hip injury during a fall in training.
Gut missed the 2010 Olympics after suffering a hip injury during a fall in training.
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She finished ninth overall last season, but still picked up a bronze in downhill at the world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
She finished ninth overall last season, but still picked up a bronze in downhill at the world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
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