Racing on the slopes to be used for the 2014 Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor complex in Krasnaya Polyana, the success meant that Kostelić was able to stretch his overall lead to 70 points over Switzerland's Beat Feuz (pictured left), who had won the downhill event on Saturday.

Feuz had to settle for second in today's race, while Thomas Mermillod-Blondin (pictured right) of France came third, as Kostelić posted a stunning time in the afternoon slalom to take the overall crown after having come 15th in the morning downhill race.

"Near the middle of the slalom run, he [Kostelić] suddenly felt a shock in his right knee but it didn't prevent him from skiing hard and ending his run," said Croatian Ski Association director Vedran Pavlek, speaking to the press in Kostelić's absence after the race.

"He felt strong pain after taking off his skis when he walked out of the finishing area...we are now going to check his knee at the nearest local hospital and inform the media about his injury."

Feuz, who had swept to victory in the downhill race on his 25th birthday, clinched the crown ahead of Benjamin Thomsen of Canada and France's Adrien Théaux.

"It's a great story to win on my birthday," said Feuz.

"I didn't expect as much.

"I didn't overdo it at the top to save energy for the finale."


Of Kostelić (pictured), he added: "I sincerely hope his injury is not too bad...it would be a great shame for our fight to end in these circumstances.

"In any case, there was no beating him today; he skied an extraordinary slalom run."

Among the crowd watching the weekend's action was Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who handed Feuz, Thomsen and Théaux their medals yesterday.

One challenge to organisers was a blizzard which made preparing pistes for the World Cup events tricky, though it got underway on schedule.

The success of the event was hailed by the men's World Cup director Günter Hujara, who said they ready.

"We could already have the Olympic alpine events next week here with this organising structure," he said.

"The hill is ready.

"There are some [adaptations] we can make but for a test race you always have to find out whether it's too straight, too turny, too hard, too soft or whatever."


The venue has come in for widespread praise from many of the athletes taking to the course, with its picturesque setting in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains.

Italy's Christof Innerhofer, Théaux and Thomsen both said they hoped there would not be significant adjustments brought to the course ahead of Sochi 2014 after course designer Bernhard Russi implied that changes would be made.

The women's alpine World Cup event takes place this weekend at Rosa Khutor, with European Cup snowboarding during the week.

In a busy week for Sochi 2014 in their preparations for the Winter Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are currently here in the Black Sea resort inspecting venues.

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