Maier takes overall title; Miller wins giant slalom

SESTRIERE, Italy — He learned how to walk again. Then he learned how to ski. He endured almost unbearable pain when he crammed his swollen, distorted leg into a ski boot. Nothing was going to stop Hermann Maier from returning to World Cup racing.

On Saturday, after a motorcycle accident nearly cost him a leg three summers ago, Maier won the overall title for the fourth time in his first full season back on the circuit — one of the great comebacks in sports.

"It is amazing," the Austrian said. "At the start of the season, my goal was to finish the season. To race as many races as possible. So you can imagine how surprised I am."

Bode Miller had a slim chance of capturing the overall title, but the American was knocked from contention when fog and heavy snow forced organizers to call off the season's final giant slalom.

Miller ended up capturing the giant slalom title — his first World Cup trophy — and had nothing but admiration for Maier.

"I would have been impressed even without the injury," said Miller, who was trying to become the first American man to win the overall title since Phil Mahre in 1983.

Sweden's Anja Paerson won her first career World Cup overall title after finishing sixth in the final women's slalom.

Maier was close to kidney failure and having his leg amputated after a motorcycle crash in August 2001. But he defied all expectations by returning to the summit of ski racing.

This season, Maier won two downhills. He captured three super giant slaloms, finishing among the top three in all seven races to secure the discipline's title as well.

The decision to abandon the giant slalom left Austria's Benjamin Raich and Finland's Kalle Palander fuming, their chances for the overall and giant slalom crowns over.

Raich was fastest in the opening leg of the giant slalom and poised to move within 52 points of Maier in the overall rankings.

Palander was second and looked capable of overtaking Miller in the giant slalom rankings to win that title. Trailing Miller by 61 points, Palander needed to win or finish runner-up and hope Miller failed to score.

Miller played into his hand with a blunder in the upper section. He ended up on his back, skis in the air.