Ljutic wins slalom to give Croatian women's ski team 1st victory since Kostelic's final triumph in 2006

Zrinka Ljutic gave the Croatian women's ski team its first World Cup victory in almost 19 years by triumphing in the final race of the calendar year on Sunday in Semmering, Austria.

With injured star Mikaela Shiffrin not racing, Ljutic dominated the fourth slalom of the season, posted the fastest times in both runs and won by a huge margin of 1.75 seconds over runner-up Lena Duerr of Germany.

Katharina Liensberger, the 2021 world champion from Austria, finished 1.85 behind in third.

"It feels like a dream, it was my dream since I was a little kid and to do it today is just amazing," said Ljutic, who turns 21 next month and had racked up five podium results over the last two years.

It's the first World Cup victory for a Croatian woman since four-time Olympic champion Janica Kostelic earned her 30th and last win in March 2006.

WATCH l Ljutic ends Croatian drought with slalom victory:

Zrinka Ljutic becomes 1st Croatian to claim World Cup alpine victory since 2006

"I felt all over the place and I really didn't know if I'm fast enough so I tried to push all the way down," Ljutic said about her all-attacking final run.

"I really wanted to take on this chance, and I did," she added.

Laurence St-Germain of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., placed 24th, while Invermere, B.C., native Amelia Smart was last among the 27 skiers who finished both runs.

WATCH l St-Germain finishes 24th in Semmering slalom:

Canada's Laurence St-Germain finishes 24th at World Cup slalom race in Austria

Ljutic laid the foundation for her first career win by dominating the opening run on a course set by her father and coach.

After Amir Ljutic placed the 63 gates on the Zauberberg course, his daughter found the fastest line to finish her run well