Italy's Federica Brignone put in a dominant display to win gold in the women's giant slalom at the Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Thursday. Brignone, second in the super-G a week ago, led after the first run,

Italian Federica Brignone will go into a home Olympics as a reigning world champion, while Minnesotan Paula Moltzan is a first-time individual world medalist, 12-plus years after her debut at ski racing's highest level.

Italy's Federica Brignone claimed a major event gold at last in the giant slalom after several near misses when she dominated the world championship race in style. Brignone was fastest in both runs in Saalbach to claim the gold a week after super-g silver,