Mikaela Shiffrin has secured the slalom season title ahead of the Olympics, making her the first skier in the six-decade history of the World Cup to achieve nine season titles in one discipline. While Shiffrin holds this remarkable record, her teammate Lindsey Vonn is close behind with eight downhill titles and is currently leading in those standings in her second season since returning from retirement in 2019.
In comparison, on the men’s side, Ingemar Stenmark and Marcel Hirscher each won the slalom globe and overall title eight times, showcasing their dominance in the sport.
Shiffrin showcased her prowess in the recent slalom race before the upcoming Milan Cortina Games by clinching the top spot in the discipline standings with two races to spare. She outperformed her competitors, including world champion Camille Rast from Switzerland, by a significant margin of 1.67 seconds in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.
Following her victory, Shiffrin expressed humility and cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from her recent performances, emphasizing the unique challenges of the Olympics. Despite her previous successes in slalom and giant slalom, Shiffrin remains focused on approaching the upcoming events with an open mind and trust in her team.
The races over the weekend held special significance for Shiffrin, as they took place at the same Czech venue where she made her World Cup debut at the age of 15 in March 2011, evoking nostalgic feelings of her early skiing days.
Reflecting on her achievement, Shiffrin mentioned that she was not preoccupied with setting records during the race, as her primary focus was on the challenging course. She highlighted the joy of unexpectedly clinching the slalom globe, adding to her impressive collection of accolades throughout her career.
Shiffrin’s dominance in slalom is evident from her seven wins out of eight races, giving her a substantial 288-point lead over Rast in the season standings. Despite Rast’s victory in a recent slalom event in Slovenia, Shiffrin’s consistent performance has solidified her position as a formidable force in the sport.
Looking ahead, the women’s World Cup will continue in Crans-Montana with a downhill and a super-G event, serving as the final races before the much-anticipated Olympics. Shiffrin’s remarkable achievements in slalom and overall race wins have cemented her legacy as a trailblazer in alpine skiing, setting new standards for both men and women in the sport.