World Cup-winning skier Tina Maze was placed under police protection after receiving a death threat via email. Two bodyguards stayed close as she took fourth in a Super-G competition in Germany this morning.

The Slovenian seemed to take it in stride.

“If somebody is strong and showing good performances and perfect in the thing you are doing, there are people who want to disturb you,” Maze said. “I guess it’s part of the game but it didn’t disturb me that much.

“It shouldn’t be part of the game but life is not perfect. It’s not nice for me, it’s not nice for my team. I haven’t seen the email … they want to ruin your day, ruin the record, but I enjoyed the day 100 percent,” Maze said.

The email came from an anonymous source and was promptly turned over to police.

Maze is one of the top female skiers in the world. She’s earned 20 World Cup victories in her career and is the current Super-G world champion.

[Photo via USA Today Sports]