Laura Peel wins third crystal globe as overall FIS World Cup aerials champion

Australian athlete Laura Peel delivered an outstanding performance at the season finals in Livigno, Italy, clinching the championship title and, with it, her third International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup Crystal Globe.

This competition also served as a test event for an upcoming Winter Olympics. Peel secured a stunning victory in a high-quality final, highlighted by her signature backflip triple jump. This marks Peel's fifth FIS World Cup victory this year and the fourteenth of her career.

"I'm so excited, I don't even know what to say. It doesn't get better than this," said Peel, a three-time Olympian. "The wind was strong out there, but it didn't seem to affect the speed too much. It was a mental game, and I just focused on the process."

In the finals, all three female athletes attempted high-risk, high-difficulty triple backflips. Peel's exceptional performance also underscores her status as a strong contender for the aerials title at the Winter Olympics to be held at the same venue next year. "This is my fourth day on this course, and I have to say, I really like it here," Peel said. "It's always been kind to me, which is comforting, and I'm glad to be back."

The 35-year-old only needed to finish 12th or higher in the season finals in Livigno, Italy, to secure the overall title. On the jump that will host the Winter Olympics next year, Peel easily achieved this, qualifying for the 12-person final in second place. In the 12-person preliminary final, the wind direction was variable, and Peel scored 91.83 points, ranking second behind Chen Meiting (94.65 points) and ahead of Olympic champion Xu Mengtao (90.22 points). All three athletes attempted and completed double jumps.

In the six-person final, the standard was raised a notch. Defending Olympic champion Xu Mengtao set a very high bar with a brilliant backflip triple jump, scoring 105.17 points. However, Peel did not hesitate and perfectly executed her own backflip triple jump, earning an amazing score of 112.90 points. Chen Meiting also attempted a backflip triple jump but failed to land successfully, ultimately finishing third with 91.44 points.

This victory gives Peel 542 points in the overall standings, easily ahead of Xu Mengtao (444 points). Scott finished third (368 points), and Wilcox ranked fifth (259 points), just 8 points behind fourth-placed Chen Meiting. After winning her third FIS Crystal Globe, Peel now has a great opportunity to finish the season on a high note and claim her third career world title at the World Championships in St. Moritz on March 29.