Tina Maze celebrates winning her third medal and second gold at this year's Alpine World Ski Championships following her Alpine Combined success.
Tina Maze celebrates winning her third medal and second gold at this year's Alpine World Ski Championships following her Alpine Combined success.
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
Maze prevailed by 0.22 seconds, with Austrian duo Nicole Hosp and Michaela Kirchgasser taking silver and bronze respectively.
Maze prevailed by 0.22 seconds, with Austrian duo Nicole Hosp and Michaela Kirchgasser taking silver and bronze respectively.
Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
The Slovenian is attempting to become the first women to win five individual medals at a single World Championships. Lasse Kjusin of Norway in 1999 is the only man to achieve the feat.
The Slovenian is attempting to become the first women to win five individual medals at a single World Championships. Lasse Kjusin of Norway in 1999 is the only man to achieve the feat.
Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Bode Miller had been setting the fastest run of the day before crashing and severing a hamstring tendon at the World Championships.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Bode Miller had been setting the fastest run of the day before crashing and severing a hamstring tendon at the World Championships.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Miller, 37, won Olympic gold at Vancouver 2010 and is a four-time world champion. The race, on February 5, had been his first since returning from back surgery.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Miller, 37, won Olympic gold at Vancouver 2010 and is a four-time world champion. The race, on February 5, had been his first since returning from back surgery.
Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Lindsey Vonn is back on the world podium with her first medal at an event of this size since 2011 -- bronze in the super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Lindsey Vonn is back on the world podium with her first medal at an event of this size since 2011 -- bronze in the super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Vonn expressed mild frustration at the windy conditions in Beaver Creek for Tuesday's race on February 3, but said she was happy to finish third. Austria's Anna Fenninger won gold.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Vonn expressed mild frustration at the windy conditions in Beaver Creek for Tuesday's race on February 3, but said she was happy to finish third. Austria's Anna Fenninger won gold.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Tiger Woods (left), fresh from losing a tooth while supporting girlfriend Vonn in Italy last month, once again turned up to watch.
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015 —
Tiger Woods (left), fresh from losing a tooth while supporting girlfriend Vonn in Italy last month, once again turned up to watch.
Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Alpine Skiing World Championships 2015

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Story highlights

Tina Maze wins gold in the Alpine Combined at Alpine World Ski Championships

Maze's third medal at Beaver Creek after silver in Super-G and gold in Downhill events

Slovenian aiming to become first woman to win five individual medals at single World Championships

Aiming for fourth in Thursday's giant slalom

CNN  — 

It’s three down, two to go for Tina Maze.

Monday’s gold medal win in the Alpine Combined, to go with a silver in the Super-G and gold in the Downhill at this year’s Alpine World Ski Championships, means Maze is on the verge of making history.

Should success in the Giant Slalom and Slalom follow then the 31-year-old will become the first woman to ever win five individual medals at a single World Championships, with Lasse Kjus of Norway in 1999 the only man to have achieved the feat.

“I’m more than halfway, so three is done, missing two more,” Maze told NBC Sports. “I hope I can do it, for sure. It’s not easy.”

The Slovenian’s latest triumph at Beaver Creek saw her prevail by 0.22 seconds in an event that combines the downhill and slalom runs, with Austrian duo Nicole Hosp and Michaela Kirchgasser taking silver and bronze respectively.

Leading after the morning’s downhill section, Maze secured the fifth fastest time in the afternoon’s slalom run to finish in a combined time of 2:33.37 to secure gold.

Maze, the World Cup overall points leader, landed a fourth world title but her first in the Alpine Combined event – and she celebrated the success with a cartwheel across the finish area.

“I’m totally exhausted, it’s a tough program and late start time for the slalom and it’s also really warm,” Maze told the International Ski Federation’s official website.

“But winning is always amazing and now there’s time to recover and enjoy. Even though I’m tired I did my best and I’m happy with the win.”

Her task had been made easier following the disqualification of Lindsey Vonn, who was seen breaking into tears after straddling a gate during her slalom run.

The American last week won her first medal at a World Championships in four years with bronze in the Super-G, but Thursday’s Giant Slalom now looks to be her only chance of claiming gold at Beaver Creek, having also finished fifth in the Downhill.

“Just try to forget today as fast as possible and move on to the next race,” Vonn told Associated Press.

Maze will also be readying herself for the Giant Slalom event, knowing that if she can replicate Monday’s form there, as well as in Saturday’s Slalom, then her place in the record books will be assured.

Read: Miller has surgery after World Championships crash

Read: Vonn wins first world ski medal since 2011