PATSCHERKOFEL, Jan 19 - Marco SCHWARZ (AUT) hesitated for a second and then cracked a huge smile as he said "Olympic champion," after winning the Alpine Skiing Men's Giant Slalom at the Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games on Thursday.

It was the second Innsbruck 2012 Gold for the Austrian, who took top spot in the Super Combined last week.

"Wow," SCHWARZ said, as members of his fan club, complete with a 10-foot banner with their hero's picture on it, chanted "Marco, Marco, Marco".

"It is a great, great feeling to win," SCHWARZ said.

SCHWARZ was second to Miha HROBAT (SLO) after the first run, a mere 0.36 seconds off the pace, but HROBAT was disqualified when he skied off course in the second run.

SCHWARZ was timed at 1:51.70 to take the title, while the Silver medal went to Hannes ZINGERLE (ITA) with a time of 1:52.10. Sandro SIMONET (SUI) claimed Bronze in 1:52.33.

"I wasn't even supposed to be here," ZINGERLE said. "A friend wasn't able to make it to the Youth Games because he had a knee injury. They asked me to come and now I will go home with a medal. This is wonderful."

HROBAT blazed down the course at Patscherkofel, with a vertical drop of 320 metres, in 56.95 seconds in the first run. SCHWARZ followed at 57.31, while Victor SCHULLER (FRA) was third in 57.35 and SIMONET fourth in 57.46.

Like HROBAT, SCHULLER skied off course in the second run, which benefitted ZINGERLE and SIMONET.

SCHWARZ navigated the 37 gates on his second run in 54.39 seconds, while ZINGERLE was timed in 54.56, and SIMONET moved up to third with a time of 54.87 seconds.

"I didn't have any more speed in me," SIMONET said.

There was a definite feeling of camaraderie among the skiers.

After he finished his second run, Marcus MONSEN (NOR) stayed in the area behind the finish line to wait for ZINGERLE to finish. And when the Italian teenager turned in a time that put him in medal contention, MONSEN was quick to offer congratulations.

"Awesome run man, awesome," MONSEN said. "Really good."

"We're all friends," ZINGERLE said. "We're like family."

YIS aa/rm