ZAGREB-SLJEME, Croatia (Reuters) -- Home favorite Janica Kostelic skied through the pain barrier after losing her right pole to finish third behind Austrian Marlies Schild in a World Cup slalom in Croatia on Thursday.

Kostelic, celebrating her 24th birthday, dropped the pole before the first gate of her second run but briefly took the lead with a combined time of one minute 55.08 seconds.

The Croatian, seventh after the first leg, was overtaken by the final pair, Kathrin Zettel and Schild, but still claimed her fourth consecutive podium in the discipline.

Kostelic also lost her right glove and was in obvious pain at the finish.

The triple Olympic champion was thought to have torn a ligament in her hand and would have it x-rayed, the official course doctor said.

Kostelic said she still plans to race in Maribor, Slovenia, this weekend even if she is wearing a cast.

"I can't believe that my hand is torn or broken but I know my fingers are not working too well," Kostelic told reporters.

"It was a really stupid mistake. It happened on the flat part before the first gate. There was some ice and when I pushed my pole it just slipped.

"My first thought was to quit the race because it was hurting so much. Then I thought 'there's no way I can do that because people have come to see me here and the workers have been working day and night to prepare the course'," Kostelic said.

Schild, winner in Lienz last week, had led after the first run and clocked a total time of 1:53.63.

Teenage compatriot Zettel was 0.44 back in second, for her best World Cup slalom finish and fourth podium of the season.

Kostelic's brave performance prevented an Austrian sweep, with Nicole Hosp in fourth.

"I'm on a nice wave of confidence," Schild told reporters. "I felt really relaxed and calm. I knew I had to attack and go for it and take risks as my team mates were fighting for the win.

"To win in front of such a crowd and such an atmosphere was really special. You really feel the people here love ski racing," added the 24-year-old, who has won five World Cup races in the discipline.

Sweden's overall champion Anja Paerson, who won the season's opening two slaloms in Aspen and Spindleruv, was fifth having only arrived in the resort late on Wednesday.

World Cup slalom champion and last year's race winner Tanja Poutiainen of Finland finished sixth.

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.