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Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates on the podium. Reuters

American Mikaela Shiffrin defended her alpine ski world championship slalom crown on Saturday to provide the United States with a golden finish to the women's competition.

First after the opening leg, Shiffrin trailed midway through her second trip down the sun-kissed Golden Eagle track before turning on the after-burners and blazing across the finish line 0.34 seconds ahead of Sweden's Frida Hansdotter with a winning time of one minute, 38.48 seconds.

Czech Sarka Strachova took the bronze, according to provisional results.

After a slow start to the championships that produced just one silver and two bronzes, the U.S. ski team has saved their best for last with Shiffrin landing the second American gold in as many days. Her win followed Ted Ligety's victory on Friday in the giant slalom.

For just the second time in 10 events Austria failed to land a skier on the podium, Kathrin Zettel recording the top result by crossing fifth.

After taking medals in the opening three disciplines, Slovenia's Tina Maze was kept off the podium for the second consecutive race, finishing eighth.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes. Editing by Gene Cherry)