American skier Ted Ligety took first place in the giant slalom event at the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup competition in Soelden, Austria, on Sunday, according to results posted on the . The聽two-time Olympic gold medalist聽finished less than a quarter-second ahead of France鈥檚 Thomas Fanara, the second-place finisher. Austria鈥檚 Marcel Hirscher took third place.
鈥淚t was tough. I am a little bit surprised I made it to the finish line as it鈥檚 a battlefield out there,鈥 Ligety told . 鈥淪o many ruts in there and tough to see, so I just tried to hammer and look for speed.鈥
Sunday鈥檚 performance also marked聽Ligety鈥檚聽50th podium finish and聽25th career victory at聽the FIS World Cup, according to NBC Sports. Previously, he has won the giant slalom event at World Cup competitions in Beaver Creek, Colorado, and Lenzerheide, Switzerland, but lost to Hirscher at Alta Badia, Italy, and Are, Sweden, in December 2014. Together, the two have won 22 out of the 26 past giant slalom World Cup events, according to the .
鈥淚t went better than I expected,鈥 Hirscher told NBC Sports. 鈥淚 am very relieved that I am there among the best. You see the other guys getting stronger, so I have to keep up with their progress.鈥