Mikaela Shiffrin was in a world of her own Saturday in St. Moritz, Switzerland, extending her unbeaten record in slalom gold-medal events. The 2014 Olympic champion imperiously won her specialist event at a third straight ski world championships — and by a huge margin of 1.64 seconds. The 21-year-old American star was nerveless, ruthless, and stylish, turning a first-run lead of 0.38 over the home fans’ favorite, Wendy Holdener, into a rout. Frida Hansdotter of Sweden was third, trailing by 1.75. ‘‘It happened almost as perfect as it could have,’’ Shiffrin said. Her gold-medal streak in slalom now includes each world championships she entered, and her only Winter Olympics.
Mihara skates to top
Mai Mihara of Japan captured the women’s title at the Four Continents figure skating event in Pyeongchang, South Korea, a test event for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Mihara, 17, rallied with a strong free skate after placing fourth in the short program. She had a total of 200.85 points. Gabrielle Daleman of Canada, first after the short program, finished second with 196.91. American Mirai Nagasu, who had a personal best of 132.04 in the free skate, was third with 194.95. Karen Chen, the 2017 US national champion, was 12th. Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China (225.03 points) won the pairs gold medal after placing first in the free skate . . . Elana Meyers Taylor of the United States edged Olympic champion Kaillie Humphries of Canada for her second world championship gold in women’s bobsled. Meyers Taylor, who won her first world gold in 2015, and brakewoman Kehri Jones edged Humphries and Melissa Lotholz by 0.03 seconds after four runs in Koenigssee, Germany. Jamie Greubel Poser of the United States was third, 0.23 seconds back with brakewoman Aja Evans, for her first world championship medal.
American pilot Steven Holcomb ranked seventh, 0.87 off the pace, at the halfway stage in the men’s two-man bobsled.
OLYMPICS
Has LA doubled its chances?
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach welcomes talk that two Summer Games hosts could be picked at the same time in September. ‘‘I like it that people are talking in this way about the Olympic candidature procedure,’’ Bach said, amid speculation Los Angeles and Paris could both get hosting rights for either the 2024 or 2028 Olympics. ‘‘It shows that people are caring. This we appreciate very much.’’ Bach fueled the dual award debate in December, when he suggested the current bidding process ‘‘produces too many losers.’’ The IOC has not formally begun any 2028 bid process, and it is also unclear if cities that are targeting that contest would have grounds for complaint about a dual award in September. Los Angeles, Paris, and Budapest are bidding for the 2024 Olympics. Budapest is seen as the outsider, and could even withdraw next week under pressure from an opposition political group to force a referendum . . . Mo Farah marked the final indoor race of his career by breaking his own European record over 5,000 meters at the Grand Prix in Birmingham, England. The four-time Olympic champion won in 13 minutes, 9.16 seconds, beating Bahrain’s Albert Rop in a sprint for the line. Farah, 33, is planning to transfer to road racing after the athletics world championship in London in August.
NFL
Dolphins extend Wake
The Miami Dolphins signed Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake to a two-year contract extension through the 2018 season. Wake, 35, had 11½ sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 1 interception this past season, and the Dolphins were 9-2 after Wake was added to the starting lineup . . . New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has a court date in Pittsburgh Thursday on criminal charges after he turned himself in to police Friday and was later released on a nonmonetary bond. Revis faces aggravated assault and other charges alleging he was in a fight with two men last weekend.
TENNIS
Pliskova is Qatar titlist
Karolina Pliskova beat Caroline Wozniacki for the first time, 6-4, 6-4, and won the Qatar Open final in Doha. The second-seeded Pliskova won her second WTA title of the year and the eighth of her career . . . Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earned his 400th career win by beating Tomas Berdych, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the final of the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Tsonga will play third-seeded David Goffin in the final. Goffin won, 6-1, 6-3, against qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert . . . Ryan Harrison beat fellow American Donald Young, 6-4, 6-4, at the Memphis Open, advancing to his first career final in his eighth try. Harrison will play Nikoloz Basilashvili, a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 winner over Mikhail Kukushkin for the championship.
Top-seeded Kei Nishikori disappointed home fans and beat local wild card Carlos Berlocq, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the Argentina Open final in Buenos Aires. Nishikori will face Alexandr Dolgopolov in the final after Dolgopolov defeated Pablo Carreno Busta, 7-5, 6-2.
SOCCER
Revolution fall in desert
Juan Agudelo’s 19th-minute goal got the Revolution off to an early start, but New England lost to the Colorado Rapids, 3-1, in a Desert Diamond Cup exhibition in Tucson. Cody Cropper made seven saves for the Revolution over 30 minutes.
Cropper replaced Brad Knighton soon after Caleb Calvert’s second goal in the 60th minute.
Lincoln pulls off stunning upset
On a dramatic day of late goals and upsets in the FA Cup, Lincoln became the first nonleague team to reach the quarterfinals in more than a century. Lincoln, which plays in the fifth tier of English soccer, beat Premier League team Burnley, 1-0, away thanks to an 89th-minute goal from Sean Raggett. Goal-line technology was needed to confirm his close-range header at the far post crossed the line. The last nonleague team to reach the last eight of the FA Cup was Queens Park Rangers in 1914. Lincoln was playing in the last 16 for the first time in 130 years, with 81 places separating them and Burnley in English soccer’s pyramid. ‘‘It’s unheard of in modern-day football,’’ Raggett said. ‘‘It shows just what an achievement this is.’’ Beleaguered English champion Leicester was eliminated by third-tier Millwall, 1-0, in the second shocker of the day . . .
MISCELLANY
St-Pierre back to UFC
Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierreis ending his three-year absence from mixed martial arts. The Canadian star was among the UFC’s biggest draws during his nearly six-year reign as its 170-pound champion. After a narrow decision over Johny Hendricksin November 2013, St-Pierre announced an extended break from fighting, and he dealt with injury problems . . . Matt Mitrione was hospitalized with a kidney stone, forcing the cancellation of his fight against heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko in the main event of Bellator 172 in San Jose, Calif. . . . The New Jersey Devils acquired defenseman Viktor Loov from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Sergey Kalinin.
