Olympics-Alpine skiing-Myhrer triumphs in slalom as Hirscher bombs out

* Veteran Swede adds gold to Vancouver bronze

* Slalom king Hirscher misses gate in first run

* Early leader Kristoffersen fails to complete second run (Updates with race details)

By Mark Trevelyan

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Sweden's Andre Myhrer won the men's Olympic slalom on Thursday at the age of 35, keeping his head while others were losing theirs after both of the pre-race favourites destroyed their chances with uncharacteristic mistakes.

The Swede won by 0.34 seconds from Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland and by 0.67 from Michael Matt of Austria.

The contest had been thrown wide open after Austria's Marcel Hirscher, the overwhelming favourite, bombed out in the morning run while chasing his third gold medal of the Games.

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen was the first-run leader by 0.21 seconds and had the chance to overhaul Myhrer, but skiied out after just half a dozen turns.

Matt, brother of 2014 slalom champion Mario, put in the fastest second run at 50.66 seconds, to move up nine places from 12th.

Zenhaeusern was only ninth in the morning but put in the second-fastest run of the afternoon. He then watched from the leader's chair as the next six racers all failed to capitalise on their advantage from the morning race.

Then came Myhrer, beating his chest before bursting out of the start gate and carving his way cleanly and smoothly down the course.

His afternoon time was only the eighth fastest, but combined with his second place in the morning, was enough to win with a total time of one minute, 38.99 seconds.

The Swedish veteran achieved his best result from four Olympics, adding to the bronze he won in Vancouver in 2010. (Editing by John O'Brien)